The Book Curator: September 2021

THE LIBRARIAN’S GUIDE TO BOOKS FOR KIDS & TEENS

INSIDE How Reading Develops Critical Thinking Skills

HM Waugh

Transforming Real Life Into Fiction

In the Spotlight Neridah McMullin

SEP 2021

ISSN 2204-5708

GIFT AWA & IDEARD S Detailed reviews on the latest fiction to help you choose bookcurator.com.au | 1

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER The Book Curator is a specialist membership service for school librarians and their teams.

WELCOME

EDITORIAL

We help schools all over the country by providing them with access to helpful information, detailed reviews and the latest fiction and non-fiction titles for their libraries.

With the lockdowns many of our members are still experiencing, and the slowing of all delivery services, Term 4 is likely to be under way by the time you read this.

Our goal is to provide the resources you need to choose the best books for your school library across a wide range of genres, age groups and formats. We provide a wide range of services to help support our members so you can get the best return for your time and budget.

Wherever you are, we hope that your holidays were an enjoyable opportunity to step away from computer screens and classes, rest, relax, put your feet up and enjoy a good book.

This magazine and our service have developed based on what our members want. We welcome your ideas, suggestions, feedback and constructive criticism to help us provide solutions to the challenges you face as you work to build an outstanding library for your school community.

In addition to library titles, we source and supply a wide range of interesting and effective resources to help teachers, counsellors and chaplains work with and support their students. We also help equip teachers and school leaders with professional development resources.

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The Book Curator ISSN 2204-5708

This second last issue for 2021 includes the final article in our threepart series on The Benefits of Reading, which looks at the measurable impact reading has on the development of problem solving and decision making skills.

Our featured author, HM Waugh, shares some of the incredible real-life adventures that inspired her new release, Evacuation Road.

Meanwhile, In the Spotlight you’ll find author Neridah McMullin, who discusses her latest book, Drover, about the remarkable Edna Jessop, (the first known female to lead a droving team).

As the year steams towards its conclusion—and with just one issue of The Book Curator to come—now is a great time to get ready for 2022.

Even better, we have an incredible competition for members who choose to pay for the renewal of their membership now, which could win you an entire package of prizes, including a virtual author visit that is sure to be a hit.

There’s also a new Standing Order option for 2022—Literacy Builders— which features Graphic Novels and High/Low fiction suitable for Years 7 to 10. The goal of this package is to influence students who may not yet have discovered a love of books, or are finding reading a struggle, to pick up a book and dive in, while also keeping existing graphic novel fans engaged. Keep an eye on your email for all the details on both of these great opportunities!

Stay safe, stay sane, and we look forward to bringing you more interesting, practical and inspiring content in our October magazine.

ROWENA BERESFORD PS. If you have any comments on The Book Curator or suggestions on what we could improve or include in future issues, please call 07 3167 6518 or email your feedback to

editor@bookcurator.com.au.

Disclaimer: The reviews contained in this magazine are based on each individual reviewer’s opinion only. While we do our best to pick up every potential concern in fiction titles, we cannot guarantee that to be the case. Should you purchase a book based on our reviews and then discover an issue of serious concern to you that was not included in our review, please contact us.

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Contents » ARTICLES & FEATURES 4 DEVELOPING COGNITIVE ABILITY WITH READING 6 FEATURE INTERVIEW Adventures On & Off The Page H M Waugh

8

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Neridah McMullin

10 NOTABLE DATES 11 NEWS & VIEWS

» BOOK REVIEWS 14 DROVER Neridah McMullin

14 THE PERFECT PLAN Leah Gilbert

14 MOOSE’S BOOK BUS

21 EDIE AND THE BOX OF FLITS Kate Wilkinson

22 THE AVA SHOW 22 TREASURE IN THE LAKE 23 THE SONG OF LEWIS CARMICHAEL 24 THE SCHOOL BETWEEN WINTER AND FAIRYLAND Heather Fawcett

25 POISON FOR BREAKFAST Lemony Snicket

26 DEFY THE NIGHT 27 THE LIFE AND TIME OF LONNY QUICKE

16 BAD PANDA Swapna Haddow

17 CRANKY CHICKEN Katherine Battersby

17 A FOREVER HOME FOR BELLA Linda Chapman

18 ADAM-2 Alastair Chisholm

19 INDIANA BONES Harry Heape

20 THE SMALL THINGS Lisa Thompson

20 DANNY CHUNG DOES NOT DO MATHS Maisie Chan

Henn Kim

38 TANGLEWEED AND BRINE Deirdre Sullivan

39 EXCUSE ME WHILE I UGLY CRY

Sofie Laguna

15 IF I WERE KING

Alex Milway

38 STARRY NIGHT, BLURRY DREAMS

Jason Pamment

Brigid Kemmerer

15 BIG SKY MOUNTAIN

Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Cecily Anne Paterson

Inga Moore Chelsea O’Byrne

36 KISSES AND CROISSANTS

Kirsty Applebaum

Joya Goffney

40 WHEN WE ARE INVISIBLE Claire Zorn

42 IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME Gabrielle Williams

43 THE FOREVERS Chris Whitaker

» IN EVERY ISSUE 45 USEFUL INFORMATION 46 INDEX This issue’s titles in alphabetical order

27 EVACUATION ROAD HM Waugh

28 A GATHERING MIDNIGHT: MIDNIGHT’S TWINS 2

47 UPCOMING TITLES What’s on the horizon

Holly Race

29 SPLINTERED LIGHT Ginger Johnson

30 SHADOW: HEIRS OF NEVERLAND # 2 Kara Swanson

32 THE RAVEN HEIR Stephanie Burgis

33 CRIMSON LEGACY Michelle Bryan

34 SECRETS IN THE MIST: SKYWORLD # 1 Morgan L. Busse

» For information on our traffic light ratings, please refer to page #

bookcurator.com.au | 3

FEATURE ARTICLE

DEVELOPING COGNITIVE ABILITY WITH READING Dr Meredith Armstrong examines how reading aids in the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills in this final article of her threepart series on The Benefits of Reading.

At the start of my doctoral journey, our professors led a discussion where we shared personal stories about the development of our relationship with reading.

In critical studies and academic literacy development, this mostly revolved around how we had interacted with books from when we were children. Given the diversity in South Africa, there were PhD candidates from all forms of cultural, ethic and economic backgrounds in our group, whose upbringing ranged from highly impoverished to highly affluent.

Despite this, there was one common foundation that we all shared. We had all been heartily encouraged to read from a young age. Some noted receiving books for every birthday, Christmas, or any special occasion. Others told stories of educators who had scoured second-hand book shops to find affordable reading material to donate to needy children.

We even heard of parents who worked as cleaners, whose employers had provided old children’s books. We also found that all of our reading mentors,

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be it at home or at school, had ensured that they inspired daily reading through a guided process.

By doing so—whether they were aware of it or not—they had begun to prepare us for the type of thinking that is highly beneficial at university.

… our [childhood] reading mentors...had begun to prepare us for the type of thinking that is highly beneficial at university.

There is an abundance of evidence which explains that critical thinking and problemsolving abilities are essential for entering—and continued success at—university.

Furthermore, the Foundation for Young Australians published a report in 2016 which revealed that the demand for these abilities in job placements in Australia had increased by 158% in just 3 years.

While these skills make a positive

contribution to success in further education, it’s clear they are also highly sought after in terms of future employment.

Critical thinking and problemsolving are intricately connected.

Being able to think reflectively about the thinking process itself, and thinking about one’s own thoughts, is key to both critical thinking and problem-solving— allowing for dynamism in the moment and self-improvement afterward.

But how does the development of these skills connect to reading?

Through guided interactions with books, learners are introduced to a variety of imagined, as well as genuine, problems and the thought patterns used to solve them.

Effective guided reading involves a more experienced reader asking questions, and leading discussions around the content the learner has read. By reading about—and discussing examples of—critical thinking and problem solving styles, learners gain skills they can use in their own lives.

An Iranian study published in 2020 examined the relationship

between reading comprehension and analysing one’s own thinking processes. This process was examined to see how it influenced a learner’s understanding of a text. By encouraging this type of thinking, the learner was able to consciously reflect on their own thought patterns. They could think about how and why they constructed certain thoughts, and the motivations behind them. They gained a deeper understanding of their reading material, meaning they could build and improve their comprehension skills when reading on their own.

As ordinary as it sounds, it is important to recognise that having a deeper understanding of what is being read contributes to critical thinking. It is about picking apart the facts which create the text and examining them on their own, then investigating the connections they share. This helps learners to read between the lines when looking for meaning, and draw conclusions that may not be straightforward in the text.

It’s not just the act of reading itself that helps strengthen these abilities. A Slovakian study explained that the learner needs to be able to read for understanding— not just be able to rote-read— for these skills to be adequately developed.

Continued communication about the concepts introduced through reading helps with their comprehension. The approach that an educator uses, such as guiding, questioning, and explaining the content in a functional way is crucial. This can then be applied to real world problems by increasing the student’s competency in logical reasoning.

…It’s not just the act of reading itself that helps strengthen these abilities…

The process of developing these skills through reading is not limited to fiction. A combination of both fiction and non-fiction can be helpful. Utilising both provides a variety of examples of how others have been able to solve problems through imaginative writing, as well as factual events.

Engaging in critical discussions on plot developments can persuade a learner to relate these concepts to real-life situations.

When reading non-fiction, the learner is not only gaining valuable general knowledge, but also an understanding of the chronology

and cause of real-world events.

Gently challenging student’s thinking and thought patterns through leading questions can be very effective. This can assist in drawing creative links in daily problem-solving and may also improve their communication skills in their school lives, as well as in their homes.

Getting a head start on these types of thinking skills through guided reading from a young age can filter into all areas of their education. Consequently, it can improve their understanding of a variety of school subjects. This can be initiated from the first time a child interacts with a book, even when they are still learning their ABCs. They do not have to be a competent reader in order to benefit from this practise.

In fact, this method can assist in strengthening their reading and comprehension skills at any stage of their reading journey. *** To read the previous articles in this series, please refer to the May 2021 and July 2021 editions of this magazine.

References for this article can be found on page 9.

Dr Meredith Armstrong is a research psychologist, who works as an international academic consultant for post-graduate university students.

Closer to home, she engages in literacy-based research examining forms of knowledge that benefit educational outcomes, and how to access them within a South African context. She has a passion for academic literacies, particularly how to bridge mental and cultural gaps that have the potential to empower previously disadvantaged communities.

Having obtained her Ph.D. in education in 2019, her current project aims to build fundamental academic literacies within the home environment of poverty-stricken populations. In her spare time, she is an avid stargazer who revels in conquering mountains in rural areas.

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FEATURE INTERVIEW

Photograph by J. Wyld

ADVENTURES ON & OFF THE PAGE HM Waugh This Australian author and environmental scientist discusses her real-life travel adventures and how they have influenced her writing.

If you could choose any book character to go on a journey with, who would you choose and where would you go?

Oh, such a hard question! I think this is the sign of a really great book—where you love to imagine yourself as a part of that world— and there are so many wonderful books that I adore. If I really really had to choose just one, I think I’d hang out with Jupiter North from Nevermoor. Then I’d get to stay in the Hotel Deucalion, and it would be so cool to see what my room became. Also, I’d get to explore Nevermoor and all the realms, and maybe even ride a dragon.

In Evacuation Road, Eva is stranded in South America when the world economy begins to collapse. What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you while travelling?

A I’ve had a few strange happenings in my travels! I’ve been fishing for piranhas, wading out into a swamp the size of France with raw meat in my bikini top, wondering whether I held the bait or was the bait. That was an experience. Also, flying in to Lukla

6 | The Book Curator: September 2021

Airport in Nepal—apparently the world’s most dangerous airport and I can see how they came up with that title—after days of whiteout, in a very old plane. I’d had to tie myself to the seat because the seatbelt was broken. And then the plane in front of us crashed into the end of the runway. I was super glad when that flight was over!

...when things go wrong, it doesn’t have to be the end of your story...

Have you ever been conned?

Certainly have! I’ve been abducted and robbed by fake policemen in Bolivia; driven away from where I wanted to go by a fake taxi driver in Peru; several times sold on “eco” hiking packages that didn’t do what they’d promised; charged the wrong amount because of currency conversion confusions.

It’s made me more cynical about advertising and spin, and also more cautious about taking risks.

But you can’t not take risks, so sometimes I assess the situation (though not quite as analytically as Eva does!) and decide to ignore my inner voice and just do the thing anyway.

Was everything in Evacuation Road inspired by your travel in South America?

The world of Evacuation Road and some of the events were definitely inspired by my time travelling independently through South America (thanks, Past Me, for writing a pretty awesome diary!). I’d had the most amazing adventures there, but also encountered some pretty dangerous situations too.

After I got back into writing I’d been thinking South America would be a great place to base a novel, but a full story idea hadn’t come to me.

Then the premise—that of a world financial meltdown where all the money we’ve safely tucked away in banks vanishes—came to me, inspired by world events at the time. That real meltdown only hit one country, but the images of people lining up to withdraw their money from ATMs—where how much they could take out was

plummeting every day—got me thinking: What if this happened on a huge scale? How would people react?

I feel YA is all about throwing your characters into situations where they have to face their fears and have the opportunity to grow stronger, so then I thought about making this meltdown situation even harder for a character. As in, placing them far from home.

Then Eva popped into my head.

Stuck in South America. Wanting to get home. And I knew it was something I had to write.

You’ve mentioned that your background in environmental science has impacted your writing, but do you think your work as a writer has changed how you interact with nature?

What an interesting question!

I think the answer is yes, and it’s both good and bad. Firstly, sometimes I’ll be hiking and all I can think about is a story idea.

So that’s definitely a negative impact! But more often I can find myself focusing on where I am, with all my senses, trying to remember the sounds and the smells and thinking how I would describe it on a page. In those times I’m deeply aware of where I am, really grounded in that moment and place, and that’s a wonderful thing.

Do you prefer to write what you know?

If I don’t know it by the start of the book, I will by the end!

For example, if I’m writing a character who’s great at handto-hand combat (which I remain pretty terrible at!) I sign up for a self-defence course and then I can better describe how it feels to hit something, or the sting of warding a blow with your arm. If my characters are eating crickets and I don’t know how they taste

or if they leave bits of leg sticking out between your teeth, I order a packet and eat them until I can describe the sound and the taste and the feel.

And for those things I just can’t experience or I’m making up, I go online or head to my library and research research research. A lot of science and history is far stranger than anything I could think up, so this helps a lot with ideas!

... YA is all about throwing your characters into situations where they have to face their fears and have the opportunity to grow stronger ...

There’s a strong vein of selfreliance and resilience through your work. What draws you to those themes?

Resilience is key to kids thriving.

The idea that when things go wrong, it doesn’t have to be the end of your story. It doesn’t need to define you. Not if you choose to keep on trying.

When I was studying for my teaching qualifications I found so much research on how important resilience was, for children especially. And luckily it’s something you can learn, something that can be modelled to you by people in your life, or even people in a book! I’d love to think that, apart from being a heap of fun, my books also help some readers to develop that sense of self-worth and the courage to keep trying. After all, if the characters gave up, the book would be over before it began.

Instead, with resilience, you find adventure.

Who’s your greatest influence as a writer?

Definitely my sister, children’s author Cristy Burne. We used to write so much as kids, and she’d been encouraging me to get back to writing for years. Finally she handed me the right book at the right moment, and it just sparked me. I was writing a story that night, had joined her writing group (SCBWI – the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) within a few weeks, and there I found my people and a world of inspiration and fun. I haven’t looked back.

Your debut novel, The Lost Stone of SkyCity, was fantasy while Evacuation Road is action/ adventure—what genre is next for you?

I love writing all things speculative, especially when they include epic quests and races against time, with healthy side-serves of humour and quirk. Next on the horizon is an awesome adventure set in a soft scifi world, and I’m so in love with it.

Are there any projects on the horizon?

Several! My next NaNoWriMo project is bubbling about in my head, collecting ideas and possibilities. This one is inspired by old roads and vanishing histories, lost artefacts and discovered magic. I’m looking forward to writing it!

Are you available for school visits, and what’s the best way for schools to get in touch?

Absolutely! I love inspiring kids about writing and science! I can be contacted through my website (hmwaugh.com) and you can also find me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. * A review of Evacuation Road can be found on page 27. bookcurator.com.au | 7

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Neridah McMullin The author of Eve Pownall Award shortlisted Fabish reflects on writing about history for young readers. Her latest book tells the true story of Edna Jessop, Australia’s first female Boss drover.

How did you first hear about Edna Jessop?

I’ve always wanted to write a book about a drover. My grandfather went droving at 14 years of age.

I love the idea of being at one with your horse, moving sheep or cattle over great distances, in wide open, fenceless spaces. I grew up with those iconic, Australian stories. Consequently, I just kept searching for a droving story. I was listening to oral recordings at the NLA (National Library of Australia) about drovers, when I stumbled upon Edna’s story. I fell in love with her life, her courage and resilience.

Edna is my hero.

Is there anything known about the other drovers on her team?

Yes, one was Edna’s brother, Andy Zigenbine, and I believe the three other ringers were Indigenous.

Unfortunately, their names have been lost over time.

Edna grew up droving with her family. Her father was a Boss drover, and she took over from him when he fell sick. She was in her early twenties when she became Australia’s first female Boss drover.

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Until the end of the book, Edna is referred to as “Drover”. What guided that decision?

Droving can be hot, dusty, dangerous work, and I wanted it to be a surprise for the reader when they reached the end of the book to discover Drover was a girl.

What’s your favourite memory from your childhood on a farm?

The silence at night, wide open spaces, horizons and a menagerie of animals. I had the perfect childhood. We had cats and dogs (kittens and puppies too, of course) canaries, doves, chickens and ducks (yep, chicks and ducklings), turtles, ferrets, rabbits, cattle and sheep (calves and lambs) and horses and foals.

They were the happiest of days and that’s why I write for children.

Throughout the book, you describe different aspects of the stockman’s lifestyle and techniques—did you base this on your grandfather’s knowledge or further research?

I guess it’s a combination of knowledge I already had, and research.

Much of it is based on my own experience of growing up on a farm. I spent hours in the saddle as a kid working horses and sheep and cattle, so I understand the terminology. I imagine I absorbed a lot of what my grandfather talked about, but I also read widely about outback Australia and am a big reader of Australian history. My parents are also a great fount of knowledge, my father is one of the greatest readers I know.

I did read a beaut book called the Murranji Track by Darrell Lewis and he traced and sketched messages written on the water tanks at bores along that stock route. They were hilarious, some of them were beautifully poetic, others cannot be repeated! I hope to follow Edna’s stock route one day, when COVID permits us to move around again.

What do you hope young readers will learn from Drover?

Drover is about breaking down stereotypes: there’s nothing boys can do that girls can’t.

I also wanted Drover to be an

acknowledgement of a way of life, in another time. It’s a nod to all drovers, stockmen, ringers and cooks who opened up outback Australia. They were incredibly brave and resourceful people.

Many children are unaware of the wonderful heritage and legacy of droving in Australia.

... Many children are unaware of the wonderful heritage and legacy of droving in Australia ...

Would you ever write a book for older readers?

I actually have written a book for older readers! I’ve got a middle grade fiction novel for 8-12 year old children, due out with Walker

Books next year. It’s another Australian history story.

Many of your previous books discuss sport history—how did you first become interested in that topic?

I love sport! I did years of Track & Field (800m and 1500m) and I’m a huge footy fan. I come from a sporting family and I have three sporty children. I believe there are life lessons to be learnt on the sporting field, such as how to respect your opposition and how to win and lose gracefully, because you have to do that in real life, don’t you?

I wrote Kick it to Me when I first heard about the Tom Wills story.

I was sitting in the stands at the MCG watching Collingwood and I was a fan of Leon Davis. Tom wrote the first set of rules for Australian Rules Football in 1858.

He grew up in the Grampians playing Marn Grook, an ancient Aboriginal game. The parallels

between the two games are extraordinary, and I wanted children to know the story of our great game. And I really wanted Indigenous children to understand its origins.

What topic will your next book focus on?

It will be another Australian history story or maybe another book about pioneering Australian women.

Are you available for school visits, and if so, how can educators get in touch?

Please feel free to contact me directly through my website www.neridahmcmullin.com —I’m more than happy to travel to visit country schools. * A review of Drover can be found on page 14.

To watch an interview with Edna Jessop visit bit.ly/3hCdVe7

SPECIAL OFFER: Save 15% on Fabish: The Horse that Braved a Bushfire until 15/10 References for Developing Cognitive Ability With Reading (p. 4).

Albay, M. (2017). The Benefits of Graded Reading. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies Studies, 3 (4): 178–179. DOI: 10.23918/ijsses.v3i4p177 Aloqaili, A. (2012). The Relationship Between Reading Comprehension and Critical thinking: A Theoretical Study. Journal of King Saud University – Languages and Translation, 24(1), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksult.2011.01.001 AlphaBeta (Firm). (2016). The New Basics: Big Data Reveals the Skills Young People Need for the New Work Order. Foundation for Young Australians. Melbourn, Victoria. http://www.fya.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/The-New-Basics_Web_Final.pdf Fadhillah, A. (2017). Embedding Critical Thinking Through Critical Reading: Teaching Narrative Text in Junior High School. Journal of English and Education, 5(2): 92–102. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/295400807.pdf Fisher, A. (2008). Teaching Comprehension and Critical Literacy: Investigating Guided Reading in Three Primary Classrooms. Literacy, 42(1): 19–28.

Grolig, L., Cohrdes, C., Tiffin-Richards, S., & Schroeder, S. (2018). Effects of Preschoolers’ Storybook Exposure and Literacy Environments on Lower Level and Higher Level Language Skills. Reading and Writing, 32 (4): 1061–1084. DOI: 10.1007/s11145-018-9901-2.

Hosseini, E., Khodaei, F., Sarfallah, S., & Dolatabadi, H. (2012). Exploring the Relationship Between Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Reading Strategies of English University Students. World Applied Sciences Journal, 17(10): 1356–1364. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.389.6521 &rep=rep1&type=pdf Lai, E. (2011). Critical Thinking: A Literature Review. Always Learning, Pearson. http://images.pearsonassessments.com/images/tmrs/CriticalThinkingReviewFINAL.pdf Mohseni, F., Seifoori, Z., & Ahangari, S. (2020). The Impact of Metacognitive Strategy Training and Critical Thinking Awareness-raising on Reading Comprehension. Cogent Education, 7(1): 1720946, DOI: 10.1080/2331186X.2020.1720946.

Nisa, E., Koestiari, T., Habibbulloh, M., & Jatmiko, B. (2018). Effectiveness of Guided Inquiry Learning Model to Improve Students’ Critical Thinking Skills at Senior High School.

Journal of Physics, 997. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/997/1/012049 Pinnell, G., & Fountas, I. (2010). Research Base for Guided Reading as an Instructional Approach. Scholastic. https://d5i0fhmkm8zzl.cloudfront.net/GR_Research_ Paper_2010_6.pdf Tabačková, Z. (2015). Outside the Classroom Thinking Inside the Classroom Walls: Enhancing Students Critical Thinking Through Reading Literary Texts. Procedia – Social and Behavioural Sciences, 186: 726–731. DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.04.042 Wilson, K. (2016). Critical Reading, Critical Thinking: Delicate Scaffolding in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Thinking Skills and Creativity, 22: 256–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2016.10.002

bookcurator.com.au | 9

NOTABLE DATES

World Space Week

Women in Space

2021 Theme: Women in Space October 4-10 World Space Week celebrates the advancement of space science and technology, and how they make our world a better place. This year’s theme is “Women in Space”.

World Space Week

Educational resources are available via the website, as well as a list of virtual and in-person events being held in Australia and around the world. worldspaceweek.org

4-10 Oct 2021

75 Years — Nuremberg Sentencing

World Teacher’s Day

October 1, 1946

Recognised annually by UNESCO since 1994, World Teachers’ Day celebrates the important work of teachers worldwide.

After a trial that ran for almost a year, nineteen Nazi war criminals were convicted and sentenced in Nuremberg, Germany.

October 5

bit.ly/3A0EG3i

bit.ly/3E3wmSU

50 years — Release of Lennon’s Imagine

140 years — Birth of P G Wodehouse

October 11, 1971

October 15, 1881

John Lennon’s controversial peace anthem Imagine is the most famous song from his solo career. It has entered the ARIA chart 100 times since 1980.

This English comedic author is best known for his Jeeves and Wooster books, along with over 90 other titles. bit.ly/3yXco8A

ab.co/3l8pNWh

75 years — Birth of Phillip Pullman

90 years — Birth of John Le Carre

19 October, 1946

October 19, 31

This English author is best-known for the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials, which has been adapted for small screens, big screens, and even radio.

Influential English author of spy and espionage novels, including Tinker, Sailor, Soldier, Spy (1974) and The Night Manager (1993).

bit.ly/3a8bawN

bit.ly/3tvWYXS

140 years — Birth of Pablo Picasso

20 years — Launch of Windows XP

October 25, 1881

October 25, 2001

One of the founders of the Cubist movement, and inventor of several artistic styles, Pablo Picasso was a highly influential 20th century artist.

Microsoft’s Windows XP operating system revolutionised personal computers by making complex, software available to everyone.

bit.ly/3E0FTKi

bit.ly/3z5mHri

10 | The Book Curator: September 2021

NEWSHEADING & VIEWS

How to Change Student Perception of Writing

Increasing Reading Engagement

Students will often associate writing with assessment rather than considering writing as a habit, hobby, or pursuit outside the school context. To encourage students to value their work, it may be worth encouraging them to publish their writing.

Are you looking for suggestions on how to increase reading engagement in students? In this podcast from Teacher Magazine, English Teacher Alex Wharton from a rural school in New South Wales discusses his efforts in encouraging his students to read.

By setting a goal for students in Years 5 to 9 read 12 books a year, they’ve seen an increase in reading engagement—including a 40 per cent increase in male students reading beyond their assigned texts.

Submitting writing for publication makes it feel more “real”—as though it has an audience and purpose. Knowing that people may read their writing will encourage students to put in extra effort and care at every stage of the development process, from ideas to editing. And once it’s been submitted, the student then gets the opportunity for feedback from someone who isn’t a teacher. This can be a huge motivator, and also means they’re receiving a broad array of perspectives on their work.

Those perspectives can be difficult to hear—after all, there’s nothing so embarrassing as someone reading your work! But every time you share your writing, it gets easier to do. The ability to seek constructive criticism, feedback, and praise is important for every field, not just writing.

Writing competitions and student writing conferences are two ways for students to start valuing their work outside of a school or assessment context.

Source: bit.ly/39kY4vZ

Putting book recommendations in school newsletters for families, getting the whole staff involved, starting wide reading book clubs and allowing students to selfselect have all made a difference..

Source: bit.ly/3nMajKG

Books Help Kids Retreat During Pandemic In The Conversation, Dr. Margaret Merga writes about how important reading is for children and teenagers in lockdown—alleviating stress, building bonds, and developing their emotional intelligence. Everyone is affected by the isolation of lockdown and post-lockdown worlds, and the constant disruption of changing protocols makes it hard to find consistency. This has resulted in skyrocketing anxiety and stress levels which can be observed in young people.

Reading-based interventions have helped many people in lockdown: in a recent study of young people, around 60% of respondents agreed that reading had a positive influence on their experience of lockdown.

This effect has a myriad of causes: from forming strong bonds with characters, discussing books with others, to broadening perspectives and building empathy, the long and short-term effects of reading on building positive relationships are notable.

Teacher-Librarians and library staff are an invaluable resource to parents in this sense, helping students to find a broader range of texts that will help them to grow. Making sure that a library collection contains lots of positive role models and encouraging themes will mean that students looking for inspiration need look no further than their library.

New Zealand Book Awards Looking to expand your collection of award-winning fiction and nonfiction? The winners of the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults have just been released! Charlie Tangaroa and the Creature from the Sea by T K Roxborogh has won both Book of The Year and the award for Junior Fiction. The category winner for Picture Book and Best First Book is Kōwhai and the Giants, written and illustrated by Kate Parker.

Access the full list of winners via the link below.

Source: bit.ly/3kqu882

Source: bit.ly/3lLOzMc

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Social and Emotional Learning and Digital Citizenship Media and technology are central to how young people learn, socialize, and participate in the world. This makes considering how students’ digital lives impact their social and emotional well-being even more crucial. Teaching social and emotional learning (SEL) and digital citizenship together can be very powerful.

The social and emotional challenges faced by students when using technology affect more than just them as an individual. Digital platforms seem to encourage more hostile communication. In a recent survey conducted by Common Sense Education, young people reported that there has been an increase in how frequently they encounter hateful content online.

Understanding how technology is impacting your students allows you to prioritise developing the skills that will make the greatest difference to them. Common Sense Education have development an excellent, easyto-understand table of skills and dispositions for years K-12 that will assist you in this process. It can be accessed via the link below.

Source: bit.ly/3lLXCwy

Understanding traffic light ratings The traffic lights are a grading system to assist schools with conservative collection policies to easily identify which reviews they should read more closely.

There are no additional content notes for this book.

There are some content notes for this book touching on light issues only. They are unlikely to be of concern.

Mild to medium content, whether this book is suitable will depend on your collection policy.

Medium to high content. Schools with conservative collection policies should read the review carefully.

The content in this book is likely to be unsuitable for the vast majority of schools with conservative collection policies.

To rate each book we weigh up the type of content (in context) with the quality of the book, the proposed reader age and the benefits to be gained from it. Your feedback on the traffic light ratings is very welcome.

EPAA Awards Coordinated by the Australian Publishers Association, the annual Educational Publishing Awards (EPAA) celebrates the Australian who have contributed to the field of learning resources for education. EPAA have recently released their award winners and shortlist register for 2021.

Publishing Company “Promoting Literacy Development” were the winners of the Primary Publisher of the Year Award, while Jessica Sanders took home Oustanding Primary Resource for her story Be Your Own Man. Other shortlisted titles included Zanni Louise & Missy Turner’s Human Kind Series: Persistence, published by Five Mile, and Walker Books Australia’s Dry to Dry by Pamela Freeman & Liz Anelli.

Source: bit.ly/3lFMCRz

SOT Category Legend These symbols identify which books are included in our standing order selection this month, and the relevant category/age group.

Picture Book Early Reader Junior Chapter Junior High Senior High

Image Attributions Page 10: John Lennon—https://www.nme.com/news/tv/john-lennon-80th-birthday-to-be-marked-by-pop-up-tv-channel-launch-2771115 Page 10: His Dark Materials—https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/13/17854742/bbc-hbo-his-dark-materials-the-golden-compass-philip-pullmanadaptation-season-2-renewal Page 10: Picasso—https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pablo_Picasso,_1910,_Girl_with_a_Mandolin_(Fanny_Tellier),_oil_on_ canvas,_100.3_x_73.6_cm,_Museum_of_Modern_Art_New_York..jpg

12 | The Book Curator: September 2021

Author Ultimate Visit + Prize Pack WIN THE

Book pack of these Kate Gordon titles — add them to your library or use them as prizes!

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Be amongst the first to read this companion novel to AGRT, with your own limited edition proof copy months in advance of publication.

class set (thirty copies) of CBCA Book of the Year Aster’s Good, Right Things

Pay your membership renewal by 30/11/20211 + you’ll automatically go in the draw. Earn extra entries for every 2 order placed between 1/10/2021 and 30/11/2021 1 Excludes E-Membership, Individuals or Public Libraries. E-members can earn entries for orders placed subject to terms and conditions. For full terms and conditions, contact The Book Curator or refer to your competition email.

2 Excludes Agile orders. For all other orders, minimum values apply.

BOOK REVIEWS

book, with gorgeous, traditional illustrations bringing the wide blue sky and flat grassland to life. The text gives readers some idea of the life of a drover, with just enough information to leave curious readers wanting more.

Drover Neridah McMullin

Author: Neridah McMullin ISBN: 978-1760652081 Published: 8/9/21 Publisher: Walker Books

Poetic words work with the images to evoke visions of beautiful, isolated country and quiet friendship. A lovely and informative read.

Recommended Age: 4 years +

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Courageous, clever and daring, Drover is one of a kind. Travelling through the heart of the outback, Drover delivers a mob of cattle.

Searing heat, dust and flies, hardship and danger: these are just part of the job. But there’s no place Drover would rather be.

The truly remarkable story of legendary drover Edna Jessop is celebrated through stunning oil illustrations and evocative text.

The Perfect Plan Leah Gilbert

Author: Leah Gilbert ISBN: 978-1547605262 Published: 31/8/21 Publisher: Bloomsbury

» OUR REVIEW

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

This narrative non-fiction picture book depicts a droving crew as they bring a herd of bullocks into town.

Maya dreams of building a fort—a special, comfy, cozy place to hide out and read, to dream and play.

So she goes to work drafting plans and gathering all her supplies. But when she gets to the forest, she realizes she needs help. Thankfully, some new friends have just the right skills to make a perfect fortbuilding team. Will Maya’s fort be everything she hopes? Or could it turn into something she never even imagined?

Drover, Billy, Splinter, and Bib make a good team, and at night they sing songs and tell stories around the fire. A bandicoot spooks the herd, and the droving team use all their skill to get the cattle safely milling again. They bring the bullocks into Dajarra, finishing a journey of thousands of kilometres that lasts nearly six months.

Biographical information on Edna Jessop (referred to only as “Drover” until the last page), and definitions for some of the terms used (like “milling” and “the bagman’s gazette”) are included in the back of the book.

This is a beautifully executed

14 | The Book Curator: September 2021

» OUR REVIEW Maya dreams of having the perfect fort in the woods. She makes a plan, gets all the materials she’ll need, and when she’s sure she’s ready she heads off into the forest and finds the perfect tree. But she soon finds it’s far too big a job to

do alone. She asks the beavers to help her chop the wood, a moose to help her move it, bears to help her set the frame up in the trees, and birds to tie everything safely together with vines.

Rain starts to fall just as they finish, and Maya despairs, thinking that her hard work may have all been for nothing. But when she goes back to her fort, she finds the vines have bloomed with beautiful flowers!

Maya and all the friends she made during the building process have the perfect place in the woods.

A sweet story about problemsolving and asking for help. Maya learns that it’s important to be flexible and ask for help when problems arise. The end result of a project may not look the way you expected, but you can take pride in your hard work and enjoy the friends you make along the way. It’s also a primer on the steps of creating something: starting with raw materials, shaping them, constructing them, and fastening them together. A great read for creative young minds.

Recommended Age: 3 to 6 years

Moose’s Book Bus Inga Moore

Author: Inga Moore ISBN: 978-1406385694 Published: 8/9/21 Publisher: Walker Books

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Moose is the most fantastic storyteller. Every night, he sits with his family around the fire

and tells an enchanting story.

But, one evening, Moose can’t think of a single tale he hasn’t told before! What he needs is a book of stories. What he needs is a library… With help from his family and friends in the woods, Moose recycles an abandoned bus from the junkyard into a book bus for his entire community to enjoy.

Beloved picture book maker Inga Moore tells a story that celebrates the joy of reading aloud and sharing stories, and the power that libraries have to bring communities together.

» OUR REVIEW Every night after supper, Moose tells his family a story. When he runs out of stories, Mrs. Moose suggests that he borrow a book from someone—but none of his neighbours have any books either! Moose goes into town and visits the library, where he borrows some storybooks to take back to the woods. Moose’s neighbour, Bear, brings her cubs along to hear Little Red Riding Hood, and they enjoy the story so much that they bring their friends the badgers the next night.

Soon Moose’s living room is getting uncomfortably full, so he buys a bus and converts it into a mobile library full of books. The other animals can’t read, but Mooses teaches Bear who teaches Badger, and so on… until a community has grown up around books and reading. But Moose is still the best storyteller they have!

A sweet story with delicate, traditional illustrations of woodland creatures in cosy houses and libraries. The unique power of books and reading to unite communities is its core, but it’s also an ode to librarians everywhere.

Some young readers may be unfamiliar with mobile libraries, so this would be a great story to start conversations about different

types of libraries and the many ways books are made available to people in different places.

Recommended Age: 3 years +

If I Were King Chelsea O’Byrne

Author: Chelsea O’Byrne ISBN: 978-0711264021 Published: 31/8/21 Publisher: Quarto Group UK

about his own home: the eggs on toast that don’t leave him feeling sick and overfull; how he can read his books in peace; his loving little brother. When he wakes the next day, he’s in his own home, and very glad not to be a spoilt king anymore!

This simple story shows young readers to be careful what they wish for. The grass may seem greener on the other side of the fence, but often absence makes the heart grow fonder; Thomas doesn’t think about how good his life is while he’s taking it for granted. Home and family have a special power, and imagined riches can’t compare.

Recommended Age: 4 to 7 years

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Thomas is fed up of spending so much time with his annoying family. But after a night of particularly strong wishing, he wakes up a king and can do anything he wants! But life is not quite as he expected.

A heartwarming story about the power of imagination and the even greater power of home.

» OUR REVIEW Thomas is sick of his ordinary life—eggs on toast for breakfast, an annoying little brother who’s always interrupting his reading and getting orange juice everywhere, never being able to pick his own clothes or do what he likes. He dreams of being a king, and never being told what to do again. Then he wakes up one morning, and discovers his wish has come true...

The palace is full of children who wished to be kings and queens.

They eat cake with every meal, and play mini golf, and have all the toys they could ever want. But a day of this leaves Thomas feeling queasy.

He tells his talking cat servant all

Big Sky Mountain Alex Milway

Author: Alex Milway ISBN: 978-1848129726 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bonnier

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Rosa has come from the city to live with Grandma Nan in the wilds of Big Sky Mountain. And what surprises are in store for her!

Grandma Nan is not exactly an ordinary grandma, and Big Sky Mountain is like nowhere Rosa has dreamed about before.

Grandma Nan lives in an old wooden cabin with Albert the moose and Little Pig the pygmy owl, and spends every day out on adventures. From canoeing down rapids to making friends with the

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local animals, life never stays still for long on Big Sky Mountain!

Rosa has a lot to learn, and when unexpected visitors to the mountain cause a bit of a ruckus, can she rise to the challenge, and be the mountain girl Grandma Nan needs her to be?

» OUR REVIEW When Rosa is dropped off on isolated Big Sky Mountain to live with her grandmother, she’s not made very welcome. Grandma Nan is not like other grandmothers: she’s outdoorsy, brisk, and nononsense. Used to life in the big city, Rosa isn’t sure what to make of long treks through the wilderness or sharing a bed with her grandmother. But she soon starts to fall in love with the mountain’s wild beauty and discovering the animals can talk is an even greater delight.

When Rosa and Grandma Nan see two furry strangers parachuting into the valley, they set off on a long trek to investigate. They discover that two beavers called Elsie and Iris have been relocated to the mountain to help with landscape degradation. But a hare called Mr Pernicky is enraged. He insists that the river is his and the beavers have no right to build Beavertown there!

When the river floods after the beavers finish their dam, his house is overrun and he’s even more enraged. Grandma Nan hurts her ankle in the conflict between hare and beavers! Rosa steps in and calms them down by reminding Mr Pernicky that the beavers have just as much right as him to be there—and that it’s everyone’s responsibility to look after the mountain. They all work together to get Grandma Nan home.

A story about teamwork, conflict resolution, and the beauty of nature. The brief description of the impact that beavers can have

16 | The Book Curator: September 2021

on the landscape around them could lead into discussions about food webs and ecosystems. Rosa’s growing love for the outdoors and Grandma Nan’s change from gruff to loving makes for a sweet, wholesome story full of adventure.

Major themes: adventure, family, the outdoors, friends, ecosystem, wildlife, food webs, problem solving, conflict resolution Content Notes: Not applicable.

Recommended Age: 7 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Bad Panda Swapna Haddow

Author: Swapna Haddow ISBN: 978-0571352418 Published: 17/08/2021 Publisher: Faber

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Are you sick of being utterly adorable? Tired of being cuddled and hugged? Fed up of having your head confused for your bottom because you just so happen to be SOOOOPERDOOOOOPER fluffy?

Lin: If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you’re in the right book.

Everyone thinks that Lin is the cutest panda in the world. So much so that they ship her off to the local zoo, away from her beloved brother, to be ogled at by the masses. But Lin HATES

being cute, and now she will do everything in her power to prove that she’s the baddest, meanest, most un-cute animal in the zoo.

» OUR REVIEW Lin is the cutest, fluffiest panda anyone has ever seen. She’s been a celebrity since birth, used on all the sanctuary advertising and gawped at by tourists. Her mother and the panda elders are always telling her to be on her best behaviour, to wash her paws, hand her homework in, and share the panda cakes. But all Lin wants to do is roll in the dirt with her older brother, who was blessed with a face like “a bag of potatoes” and never has to do the right thing.

When Lin is sent away from the sanctuary to represent the pandas at a zoo, she hatches an escape plan. If being a good panda got her sent to the zoo, then surely being a bad panda will get her sent back! Helped on her way by her new panda friend Fu, Lin sets about scaring pigeons, growling at tourists, and even leaving her enclosure to scare schoolchildren into giving her their packed lunches. But no matter what Lin does, she’s just too cute to be bad.

Everyone thinks her behaviour is adorable!

Lin realises that in order to truly scare people, she’ll need to become the scariest thing in the zoo: a snake. A capuchin monkey called Malo helps Lin and Fu to find snake disguises, and they make their way to the reptile enclosure.

There, Lin faces her worst fear: the King Cobra. Then his mother appears from the back of the enclosure and explains that he’s upset because his tail is injured.

Even the King Cobra isn’t bad! The only bad animals in the zoo are the humans who cage the animals.

Lin realises that the worst thing she could do—and the RIGHT thing to do—would be to free all the animals

from their enclosures and take over the zoo. The animals are overjoyed at chasing the humans out, finally being free to roam and not being harassed by photographers all the time. Lin thinks she’s finally done enough to be considered a bad panda! But the humans realise that this is the right way to do things: give the animals more space and stop interrupting their days. Lin just can’t be bad! At least she has a zooful of great new friends to help her stop missing her brother so much, since nothing she can do will get her sent back to the sanctuary.

A cracking good story full of humour and colourful illustrations.

The story is a combination of text with illustrations and short comic strip interludes. It’s hard not to coo over Lin’s antics, even though she’d hate it. At her core, Lin isn’t a bad panda: she wants to do the right thing and doesn’t like being messy.

She just wants to live in peace. This would be a great tool to explain to children that animals in zoos need to be treated with respect and care, rather than commodified and harassed. Lin’s initial fear of the snake is also a great example for getting over biases and understanding others. It’s also an absolute riot!

Major themes: zoos, animals, pandas, friendship, family, escape Content Notes: 1. Lin’s brother is literally called “Face-like-abag-of-potatoes”. 2. The panda’s propensity for ‘pooing’ is played for laughs throughout, including referring to “a whopper panda dump” that was so gigantic it took 98 people 63 hours to clean it up, accompanied by an illustration of the cleanup (people in hazmat suits with shovels and ladders).

Recommended Age: 7 years+ Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

the things they like best in life— from being cranky to a peaceful moment reading. They even decide to brave the skies together.

By the end of the book, Cranky Chicken is much less cranky!

Cranky Chicken Katherine Battersby

Author: Katherine Battersby ISBN: 978-0734420954 Published: 01/09/2021 Publisher: Lothian

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Everything about Chicken is cranky.

Cranky eyes, cranky eyebrows, super-sharp cranky beak, even cranky scratchy feet. And everything makes Chicken cranky.

The sun is too bright, the dirt is too dirty. What Cranky Chicken is not is lonely. Nope, nope, definitely not. But then along comes a very cheerful worm named Speedy, who just wants to be friends.

The first book in a charming illustrated series about mismatched friends who bring joy, companionship and a new perspective to each other’s lives.

A funny adventure about making new friends, breaking barriers, and trying new things. The graphic novel format makes this book an easy read, and the expressive, cartoonish illustrations bring the two characters’ escapades to life.

This is a great way to illustrate ways of managing temper, the power of friendship and positivity, and the importance of taking time to do fun things on bad days. This book could bring a smile to even the crankiest chicken’s face!

Major themes: friendship, animals, anger management, overcoming fears Content Notes: Not applicable.

Recommended Age: 6 to 9 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

» OUR REVIEW Cranky Chicken is very good at being cranky, and everything— from how bright the sun is to how dirty the dirt is—makes Chicken crankier. When Chicken kicks over a leaf one day, the worm underneath decides they have to be best friends.

Speedy is the fastest, cheeriest worm in the west—the pair couldn’t be a worse match. But Speedy wins Cranky over with matching t-shirts and they decide to give friendship a try. Cranky admits that it’s lonely being cranky, and Speedy admits that Cranky is Speedy’s first friend. The two first-time friends decide to share

A Forever Home for Bella Linda Chapman

Author: Linda Chapman ISBN: 978-1788009553 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Nosy Crow

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Nine-year-old twins Grace and Jack run the Forever Homes rehoming service. Whether it’s

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a cheeky puppy or a shy kitten, they’re determined to pair every animal with their perfect person— and have lots of adventures along the way!

Bella is a friendly Labrador puppy who likes cuddles, walks and books! Can the twins find someone who will love Bella AND read her stories?

» OUR REVIEW When Grace and Jack meet a Labrador puppy called Bella at the vet, they fall in love with her energy and sweet nature straight away! Her owner has to move for work, and can’t take Bella with her, making her the perfect new client for Grace and Jack’s Forever Homes rehoming service. Grace and Jack set to work finding Bella the perfect owner immediately. She loves stories, so they talk to the librarians at school. Unfortunately, although Ms. Clark would love to have her, she’s away from home too often to look after a puppy. If only she could be a part-time dog owner!

Grace’s next idea comes when she realises her friend Poppy really wants a dog. Her mother has just had a new baby, and Poppy—who used to be an only child—feels that she isn’t being paid any attention anymore. She’d love to have a dog all of her own, but her mother says with the new baby they can’t take on a young puppy like Bella.

Things fall into place when Jack brings up school dogs. If they could convince Ms. Clark to take Bella on at home then bring her into school, Bella could get love and cuddles from all the school kids! But she would need someone to take care of her in school and help to train her. After some convincing, Poppy agrees to be responsible for Bella.

She didn’t want to share Bella with the whole school at first, but she soon adjusts to the role and even starts a Puppy Club for the younger kids where they learn how to take 18 | The Book Curator: September 2021

care of dogs! Taking care of Bella helps her to understand why her mother spends so much time with her new baby, and the Puppy Club helps her acclimatise to younger kids. A resounding success!

Sweet, wholesome and comforting, this new instalment in the Forever Homes series is a treat to read.

Grace and Jack’s problem-solving strategies will give young readers a greater understanding of dogs, and Poppy’s story will be soothing for children who have new babies in the family. There’s even information in the back about Labradors and finding your ideal dog. Overall, a highly enjoyable read.

Major themes: pets, rehoming, problem solving, babies, dogs Content Notes: Toilet humour: Q: How does a baby tell its mum it needs a nappy change? A: It sends its mum a pee-mail! (p. 23).

Recommended Age: 5 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Adam-2 Alastair Chisholm

Author: Alastair Chisholm ISBN: 978-1788006101 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Nosy Crow

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION The robot Adam Two has been locked in the basement of a lost building for over 200 years—until he emerges into a world ruined by a civil war between humans and

advanced intelligence. Hunted by both sides, Adam discovers that he holds the key to the war, and the power to end it—to destroy one side and save the other. But first, Adam must decide who—and what—he really is.

» OUR REVIEW Adam is a robot who describes himself as “Adam version two point zero, a prototype experimental artificial entity.” He has been living in the basement of an abandoned building for over 200 years when he is discovered by two children, Runa and Linden. Adam follows them into the outside world, which has been ruined by a civil war between humans and robots.

Adam is cautiously accepted into the human’s world because he is useful for fixing broken equipment, which empowers the humans’ fight against the robots.

However, after he is is captured by the robots, Adam begins to see the civil war from their point of view, and realises he needs to find a way to create peace between humans and robots before they destroy each other. However, this is much more difficult than he expects as both sides believe the only way to have lasting peace is to destroy their enemies. Eventually, Adam comes up with an ultimatum that forces both the humans and robots to reluctantly cooperate, and the story ends on a note of hope for the future.

This is an interesting story that realistically illustrates the tensions between cultures and why solutions are difficult.

While Adam is the hero of the story, Linden plays a major role and experiences the most character growth. Linden is non-binary, and uses ze/hir pronouns. The book contains little description of Runa and Linden, leaving much to the reader’s

imagination and personal interpretation. The technological gadgetry and conflict will appeal.

Thematically, the story has much to offer in terms of the need for empathy and tolerance in overcoming conflicts between groups.

Major themes: technology, civil war, conflict, artificial intelligence, robots, resolution, empathy, understanding others, bias and prejudice, diversity Content Notes: 1. There are no descriptions of violence involved in the depiction of the civil war, but large cities have been destroyed and resources are scarce.

Recommended Age: 12 to 14 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Indiana Bones Harry Heape

Author: Harry Heape ISBN: 978-0571353507 Published: 03/08/2021 Publisher: Faber

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Indiana Bones is a shaggy dog with a difference. He’s got superpowers and can sniff out criminals and— with his young friend and owner Aisha—solve mysteries that would flummox the world’s more expert detectives!

In their first case, they are on the trail of treasure hidden centuries ago by a legendary knight known

as The Lonely Assassin, an adventure which takes them all the way to Egypt and the Pyramids.

A hugely inventive new series from one of the funniest author/ illustrator teams in the business.

» OUR REVIEW Dr Satnam Ghatak often tells his daughter Aisha the story of his greatest archaeological find.

On a dig near Skara Brae, he once discovered a mystical door that lead to a sumptuous room, perfectly preserved and filled with sleeping dogs. He chanted a mantra he remembered from his childhood in India and the room disappeared...leaving only one dog. Dr. Ghatak adopted the dog and named him Indiana Bones, and he’s Aisha’s best friend. The most incredible part of the story is that Indiana can talk!

Another of Dr. Ghatak’s lifelong passions has been the story of the Lonely Avenger, a 4th century French knight who stole a fortune from Prince Philippe of Castile. The treasure has never been found, so when Aisha discovers a clue suggesting that the Avenger’s stash was hidden under the Great Pyramid in Egypt, she knows she and Indiana have an adventure on their hands.

Unfortunately for them, someone else knows about the clue. A smelly, tattooed, South London thug called Ringo is on their tail.

Aisha and Indiana make their way to Egypt on a luxury ship, aided by a mysterious friend: Julimus, a shabby-looking man who carries a strange wicker basket with him at all times. Inside the basket is a snake who he cares for greatly.

Though Julimus is enigmatic, he’s a great help on their journey.

When they arrive in Egypt, Aisha is fascinated by a beautiful palace she’d heard about back in England, owned by a man known as “The

Serpent”. Inside the palace are all manner of antiquities. With Indiana’s help, she breaks into the palace to see if she can find any clues about the Lonely Avenger’s horde under the Great Pyramid.

She leaves with a strange statue of the moon god Khonshu and a dossier on her father.

Aisha, Indiana, and Julimus take the perilous journey to the Pyramids by hot-air balloon.

There, they discover Ringo, the Serpent, and another man in a suit are hot on their heels. Aisha uses her ingenuity to find a secret chamber, and the figurine of Khonshu to open a concealed door. Using moonlight reflected off Khnoshu’s eyes and the mantra she remembered her father telling her about she is able to reverse a curse: The snake Julimus had been carrying was actually his son!

Sadly, they find no treasure, only what appears to be the Lonely Avenger’s armour, sword, and journal. They escape from the clutches of the Serpent, and the man in the suit is revealed to be none other than Philip Castle—the descendent of Philipe of Castile!

They make their way back to England, with a treasure far greater than they expected: Julimus’s son. And the diary is sure to contain clues that will lead them on another adventure… perhaps to the true location of the Avenger’s treasure trove.

A highly enjoyable adventure in archaeology. While some elements are inspired by Indiana Jones, this wholesome escapade would also be a great choice for lovers of Tintin and The Kane Chronicles, with supernatural elements, a loveable, scrappy protagonist, and a great mystery at the centre. The action-packed storyline and readable typeface make this a great choice for reluctant readers. Readers will

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be keenly waiting for the next instalment!

Major themes: mystery, fantasy, archaeology, adventure, history, talking dog, animals, humour Content Notes: 1. Dr Ghatak tells a story about how he found Indiana Bones (a talking dog) which involves a portal to another world. He speaks a mantra he remembers from his childhood in India, “Om Sah Maatraa Namah”, which causes the illusion to dissipate (p. 11-13). Aisha repeats the mantra when she breaks the curse on Julimus’s son (p. 243), who had been transformed into a snake years before. Indiana Bones has a danger sense which he refers to as a “Third Eye”. 2. Ringo smokes cigarettes (p. 136, 179).

Recommended Age: 8 to 11 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

The Small Things Lisa Thompson

Author: Lisa Thompson ISBN: 978-1781129647 Published: 17/08/2021 Publisher: Barrington Stoke

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Anna’s anxious when she’s picked to befriend the new girl in her class. For a start, Ellie is ill and can’t come to school herself. So Anna has to communicate with her through a new kind of robot.

But Anna is also worried that her life’s too small and boring to

20 | The Book Curator: September 2021

be of interest to her new friend.

Compared to the other girls, she doesn’t have anything exciting to talk about and so when Ellie asks her a question, a little white lie pops out. Then another and another.

When Ellie finds out the truth, can their friendship survive ...?

» OUR REVIEW When a new girl joins Anna’s class, everyone’s excited. Not just because she’s new, but because of the unusual situation: Ellie is sick, so she can’t come to school in person. Instead, she pilots a little robot that the class call Ellie-bot.

Anna’s teacher asks her to be Ellie’s partner and help her to feel welcome. But Anna is selfconscious because unlike all the other girls in class she doesn’t do much after school. Some girls are in street dance classes or go horse-riding or compete in swimming competitions, but Anna’s family can’t afford for her to have expensive hobbies. To cover up for her discomfort, Anna lies to Ellie-bot about her life, claiming that she goes ice-skating and tenpin-bowling and a whole range of exciting activities.

When Anna’s lie is exposed to Ellie at the school fete, she doesn’t have time to apologise of explain.

She talks to her mum, who asks her why she felt that her own hobbies weren’t enough: Anna used to like reading and art, but she’s given them up recently. Anna decides to pick her art projects back up. When she comes back to school, it’s to another surprise: Ellie has been cleared to come to school in person! Anna gives Ellie a collage she made and apologises, explaining that it was her insecurity that made her lie. Ellie says that they can enjoy “the small things” together, like sunshine and birdwatching, and the two girls go to the library to read together.

A sweet story about enjoying the

little things about life. Though Anna is jealous of the girls in her class like Nia who have such busy lives, she learns that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence; the other girls never have time to unwind or appreciate the little things. After her lie is revealed, Anna commits to being honest and doing the things she loves. This book is produced to be accessible to Dyslexic and reluctant readers, with dyslexia-friendly font and paper, a moderate typeset, and a fast-moving, quick story Major themes: friendship, lies, honesty, jealousy, class differences, hobbies, art, chronic illness, immune deficiencies, robots Content Notes: Not applicable.

Recommended Age: 8 to 12 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths Maisie Chan

Author: Maisie Chan ISBN: 978-1800780019 Published: 14/09/2021 Publisher: Bonnier

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Eleven-year-old Danny Chung loves drawing more than anything—certainly more than maths, which, according to his dad and everyone else, is what he is ’supposed’ to be good at. He also loves having his own room where he can draw in peace, so his

life is turned upside down when a surprise that he’s been promised turns out to be his little, wrinkly, ex-maths-champion grandmother from China. What’s worse, Nai Nai has to share his room, AND she takes the top bunk!

Nai Nai can’t speak a word of English, which doesn’t make things easy for Danny when he is charged with looking after her during his school holidays.

Babysitting Nai Nai is NOT what he wants to be doing!

Before long though it becomes clear to Danny that there is more to Nai Nai than meets the eye, and that they have more in common that he thought possible ...

» OUR REVIEW An endearing, enjoyable, and very relatable tale about a BritishChinese family’s life in England.

The story focuses around 11-yearold Danny, who spends his time drawing—to the detriment of his other school subjects. His only friend is Ravi, another bookish character, but he longs to be part of the ‘cool kid’ crowd.

Mum, Danny’s folks’ Chinese take-away, Danny struggling with Maths. The overall message is not to judge books by their covers, make snap judgements, or allow prejudice to cloud your perception of others; instead, to treat everyone with respect and care.

A highly enjoyable read which translates into Australian culture.

Major themes: intergenerational families, Chinese culture, multiculturalism, school, Maths, friendship, family bonds, bullying, love, belief Content Notes: 1. Language: “God” (p. 20, 164, 164, 186, 252, 255). 2. Wooden altar to kitchen god (p. 36). 3. Mr. Potempa and his husband David live above their store, just like Danny’s family do.

Danny tells Mr Potemba that his grandmother needs some fruit that will help her “do number twos”. He’s embarrassed by the way she acts in the store.

Recommended Age: 10 to 14 years Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Danny’s life is upended when his elderly grandmother arrives from China to live with them. He even has to share his room with her. They find it difficult to communicate: she speaks no English and his Chinese is poor. Initially, he’s furious; he tries to respect his parents’ wishes, but it isn’t easy. When his Nai Nai turns up at school, his embarrassment is complete.

Gradually, he warms to her and appreciates the sacrifices she’s made to start a new life at her age.

Being an ex-maths champion, she helps Danny with an important school project and shows him that maths is all around him. When they discover Bingo, Nai Nai is an absolute wiz.

Edie and the Box of Flits

Throughout the book, the author pokes fun at stereotypes: a Tiger

When 11-year-old Edie Winter finds a mysterious box on the

Kate Wilkinson

Author: Kate Wilkinson ISBN: 978-1848129108 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bonnier

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

London Underground she’s amazed to discover that it’s home to a family of Flits—tiny winged people. But Impy, Speckle and Nid need Edie’s help. Not only do they need supplies (rice crispies, sugar sprinkles, digestive biscuits and raisins) and someone to look after them, but their brother Jot has run away and they need Edie’s help to find him.

Set against the backdrop of London and its Underground network, Edie and the Box of Flits is a story about friendship, family and noticing the little things in life.

» OUR REVIEW A really fun tale with just enough enchantment to make the reader believe it’s all possible. Edie loves going to her dad’s place of work: London Transport’s Lost Property office. When she discovers an old box full of tiny winged creatures, “Flits”, she’s swept into a world of adventure that only children can see.

Something is targeting the Flits, ransacking their homes and capturing their young. At the same time thefts have skyrocketed on the Underground, but no one has any answers. Edie sets out to find where her Flits family has gone. Along the way she meets Charlie, who also knows about the Flits and enlists the help of a young colleague of her father’s.

They discover that another of her father’s colleagues is behind it all.

She’s trained the baby Flits to steal jewellery unnoticed and has an army of birds at her disposal too.

The final showdown takes place in the disused tunnels and stations of London Underground.

A wonderfully engaging adventure story which will delight all readers.

Major themes: London Underground, lost property, adventure, bullies, true friendship, Little People, help, rescue, belief

bookcurator.com.au | 21

Content Notes: Mention of Halloween and trick-or-treating; some girls dress up as witches (p. 112, 114). Edie and her mother discuss Finnish fairytales and pixies, which are called kotitonttu.

Recommended Age: 9 to 13 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

and her best friend Josie will be spending at the high ropes course.

They’re finally old enough to climb to the highest level and Ava can’t wait.

She’s way too busy having fun to remember things like homework and boring stuff like where she put her shoes. Or when her homework is due. Besides, her family and Josie are always going to be there to help her. Right?

But soon, everything changes. A virus makes its way to Australia.

People are getting sick. People are dying. Josie’s mum won’t let her come to school. Athletics is cancelled. The borders are closed and Ava’s grandfather is trapped on a cruise ship, unable to come home.

The Ava Show Cecily Anne Paterson

Author: Cecily Anne Paterson ISBN: 978-1761110405 Published: 15/09/2021 Publisher: Wombat Books

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Ava’s been training hard for an awesome athletics season, and is looking forward to celebrating her 12th birthday. Life’s great—and Chloe the dog is having puppies!

Even if Mum gets annoyed at Ava’s lack of organisation, Ava can always rely on her best friend Josie and her sister Maddie to pick up after her.

But when the pandemic hits, everything’s cancelled. There’s no school, no birthday, no athletics, no toilet paper and definitely no Josie to rely on. When a puppy goes missing, it’s Ava’s fault. Can she mend her irresponsible ways in time?

» OUR REVIEW Ava’s world is made up of three things: her family, her friends and athletics. Oh, and not to mention her 12th birthday, which she

22 | The Book Curator: September 2021

And then the government makes the decision to send the whole country into lockdown, forcing everyone, including Ava and her family, to stay home.

Very quickly, Ava discovers how disorganised she really is.

Without Josie and her teachers, managing her own schoolwork from home turns out to be a lot harder than she thought. She tries to be improve herself and help her family more, but just as she’s getting the hang of her new responsibilities and new way of living, she makes a mistake that could throw everything into jeopardy ...

Major themes: family, friendship, responsibility, coming-of-age Content Notes: Not applicable.

Recommended Age: 9 to 13 years Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Treasure in the Lake Jason Pamment

Author: Jason Pamment ISBN: 978-1760526238 Published: 14/09/2021 Publisher: Allen & Unwin

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Grand adventures often begin where you least expect. Iris knows this because she’s read them all.

But when she and her best friend, Sam, stumble upon an unusually dry riverbed on the outskirts of town, they make a discovery beyond anything Iris has read about: a hidden city, lost in time and shrouded in mystery. Storm clouds gather as secrets begin to surface.

Can Iris and Sam uncover the truth in time to keep their friendship afloat, or will history repeat itself and pull them apart forever?

» OUR REVIEW Iris and Sam are best friends who spend their time exploring their little town of Bugden. Sam likes where they live, while Iris longs for adventure. She wants to go to boarding school in the city, study to be an archaeologist, and spend her life exploring and making great discoveries. When Iris’s mother tells her they can’t afford boarding school, Iris runs off to the woods in a fury.

Sam follows Iris, and together they discover that strangely, the creek has almost run dry overnight.

Exploring further, they discover a mysterious abandoned city.

Iris is ecstatic—she’s sure this

breakthrough will make her famous and save her from a life in Bugden!

But Sam is upset at her attitude towards their home town, and the friends argue. Sam heads back through the woods—but soon gets lost.

Iris runs into a girl called Lily who is dressed in old-fashioned clothes and tells Iris she can lead her to the ‘treasure’: a secret room full of toys. But as the girls explore, rain starts to fall and the rising waters begin flooding the abandoned city and the toy room.

Meanwhile, as Sam attempts to navigate his way through the woods, he meets an old man called Benjamin. As they talk, Sam realises the old man is from the mysterious city he discovered with Iris. Benjamin explains that the city was evacuated due to rising floodwaters, as the water level is usually high enough that the city is completely submerged. He speaks more about his childhood there, and his best childhood friend—Lily— who he later married. Benjamin and Lily shared a passion for toys.

Sam is filled with concern for Iris, and he returns to the city to find her. With Benjamin’s help they both escape and make it safely back home. All Iris has left of the strange town is a wooden doll, which she gives to Benjamin...

A fun coming-of-age story with timeslip elements and ideas about repeating patterns in history.

Through the lens of Benjamin and Lily, Sam and Iris can see their future: pulled back to this strange town by their life’s work and divided by circumstance. But Iris can also see another way. By the end of the book, she’s accepted that there really is no place like home and begins to enjoy Bugden in a way she never has before.

Major themes: adventure, history, discovery, old towns, archaeology, timeslip, learning from past

mistakes, coming-of-age, growing up, leaving home

rivers all made of snow. Everywhere was white.

Content Notes: While it is never explicitly explained, this is a timeslip adventure, in which Iris visits a version of the town before it was flooded. She is accompanied

by Lily, who stayed behind after the initial evacuation and was rescued

by Benjamin. The clock tower chimes at the beginning and end of Lily’s adventure into the past.

It’s unclear if the mechanism of her time travel is magical in nature, but it’s clear that Lily is not a ghost as she did not die in the flood.

Matthew has dreamed and read and thought about the North Pole for as long as he can remember.

And he has done it secretly. It is a place that cannot be tarnished by the world in which he lives—a world in which he struggles to find answers and make friends, while everything seems to come easily to other children.

Recommended Age: 9 to 12 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

The Song of Lewis Carmichael Sofie Laguna

Author: Sofie Laguna ISBN: 978-1760878573 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Allen & Unwin

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Matthew stood on the snowy peak and stared out at the world spread before him. Every picture in his books had been limited by the size of the page, contained within frames. Here, there was no frame.

Here, the picture didn’t end. Beyond those icy plains, the sea, and beyond the sea, a land that floated on the ice, drifting northwards.

Matthew put the binoculars to his eyes and saw valleys and cliffs and

But one day, a crow called Lewis Carmichael lands at Matthew’s window—a crow who believes in Matthew in the most simple and ordinary ways. Soon, the unexpected voyage of a lifetime begins, and it will change everything...

» OUR REVIEW When a crow with a broken wing taps on Matthew’s window one night and invites him on a journey to the Arctic. The crow is called Lewis Carmichael and Matthew— thinking he is in a dream—agrees.

He has long been fascinated with the North Pole and pores over books of people who have been there. He especially loves the photos of the scenery and the wild animals.

After climbing out his bedroom window, Matthew finds a hot air balloon waiting for him, with enough supplies for the journey and a three-day stay, plus warm clothes and boots.

Matthew and Lewis arrive in the North Pole and explore the terrain. They meet a mother polar bear and her cub, who Matthew helps by removing a walrus task from its paw. They also see reindeer and walruses as well as a great variety of birds, which saddens Lewis Carmichael as he misses being able to fly.

Before they leave, Matthew is determined to see the arctic wolves.

bookcurator.com.au | 23

Matthew persistently hears a baby crying and believes he must rescue it. But the baby is a figment of his imagination, coming from his mistaken belief that his parents are disappointed with him and want a baby. In the end, he is rescued by the mother polar bear he had helped and

by Lewis, who is fatally injured in the process. Matthew is left alone in the Arctic. His supplies have been depleted by another polar bear who also damaged the spare gas cylinder for the balloon.

Exhausted from the dramas, he falls asleep.

When he eventually wakes up, Matthew discovers the balloon is being carried by a flock of snow geese who deliver him back to the roof of his house. His parents are very relieved to have him back home, although to them, he has only been gone for one day. Lewis did tell him time works differently in the Arctic—supposedly because all the longitudinal lines begin there. Matthew realises his parents really do love him and don’t want to replace him. He tells them not to worry so much about him.

This is a well-told narrative with beautiful descriptions and illustrations. It’s a lovely story of friendship, resilience and imagination.

Matthew’s adventure helps him to overcome his fear and reticence, and he returns home braver and more self-assured, having learnt many different skills along the way.

Lewis Carmichael’s self-sacrifice makes this story about friendship and bravery all the more powerful.

Highly recommended.

Major themes: North Pole, Arctic, Arctic wildlife, friendship, resilience, imagination, family, self-sacrifice, courage, belonging Content Notes: The crow, Lewis Carmichael, dies. In his final words, the crow comforts Matthew, telling 24 | The Book Curator: September 2021

him not to blame himself and that change is inevitable.

Together they uncover the dark truth that lies at the heart of Inglenook School—because every school has its secrets...

Recommended Age: 8 to 12 years Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

» OUR REVIEW

The School between Winter and Fairyland Heather Fawcett

Author: Heather Fawcett ISBN: 978-1760526542 Published: 14/09/2021 Publisher: Allen & Unwin

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Twelve-year-old Autumn is a beastkeeper at Inglenook School for Magicians, which she secretly dreams of attending as a student. Instead, she must care for Inglenook’s menagerie of dangerous creatures so the king’s future monster hunters can study them. But when she isn’t mucking out the griffin stalls, Autumn searches for clues about her twin brother’s mysterious disappearance. Everyone else thinks that he was devoured by the terrifying Hollow Dragon, but Autumn isn’t so sure.

Enter Cai Morrigan, the famous young magician prophesied to one day destroy the Hollow Dragon. When Cai comes to Autumn with a secret problem, Autumn agrees to help on one condition: that the ’Chosen One’ join her quest to find her brother.

Autumn and her siblings live with their grandmother, the Beastkeeper at Inglenook School for Magicians. Days are spent looking after all manner of magical creatures, with 12-year-old Autumn being particularly gifted and adept at the speech—the ability to talk to, understand and control the animals with her mind.

Her world has been shattered by the mysterious disappearance of her twin brother. The clues point to his demise, but Autumn isn’t convinced. A chance meeting with the school’s star pupil ends with autumn helping him overcome a big problem in return for his help in finding her twin. Together they unmask more than they bargained for and reveal deep secrets about the school and themselves.

A splendid read full of magic and wizardry. There are mythical beasts, dragons who love gardening, a seemingly hopeless quest and some skulduggery to boot. What’s not to love? Will definitely appeal to fans of Harry Potter and Morrigan Crow.

Major themes: magic, school for magicians, beasts, family, friendship, teamwork, quest, mystery, destiny, dragons Content Notes: Fantasy setting of a magical school, with the use of magical spells etc., at an equivalent level to the first of the Harry Potter books.

Recommended Age: 9 to 13 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

» OUR REVIEW

Poison for Breakfast Lemony Snicket

Author: Lemony Snicket ISBN: 978-0861542611 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bloomsbury

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION ”This morning you had poison for breakfast.”

One day, Lemony Snicket finds a puzzling note pushed under his door and is forced to follow a winding trail of clues to solve the mystery of his imminent death.

But this is so much more than just a mystery. Along the way, he tackles some of the key questions about life. Who was Korla Pandit what did he do and what was his real name?

What are the three absolute rules for writing a book? Why should you never judge a goat by the way it looks? And why does being clumsy have its benefits?

For over twenty years, Lemony Snicket has led millions of young readers through a world of bewildering questions and strange, unfortunate events. In this, his latest book, a love letter to the young and the young at heart, he takes us on a thought-provoking tour of his own predilections.

Long-time fans and new readers (Who are you? Where have you been?) will fall in love with this “true” story, told in a way that only Lemony could tell it. You might even learn some important lifelessons like how DO you cook the perfect egg?

This intriguing story opens with author Lemony Snicket finding a note that states: ‘You Had Poison for Breakfast’. Snicket sets out to discover how his breakfast—tea with honey, a piece of toast with cheese, one sliced pear, and an egg perfectly prepared—was poisoned.

He decides to trace the origins of each ingredient to catch the poisoner.

Snicket visits the tea shop, Incomparable Tea, which keeps ‘daringly eccentric hours.’ Finding it closed, he moves on to the local beekeeper who sells jars of honey labelled A Syrup of the Bees. She suggests he investigate another ingredient in his breakfast that he hasn’t considered—the water in his tea.

He ponders this by swimming in the nearest body of water, the sea. He then turns his attention to the supermarket where he bought the bread, noting there’s always been something ‘sinister’ about the supermarket: “there is something so distrustful about a place so eager to please” (p. 86).

He decides it would be un-literary for the most suspicious place to be villainous, and so goes to the least suspicious: the park.

Lemony trips in the park and realises he doesn’t feel poisoned.

He talks to a translator of literature who points out that his note, ‘You Had Poison for Breakfast’, follows the rule of writing a book: to be surprising.

Snicket ruminates on the ‘chicken or the egg’ philosophical problem.

He realises that he wrote himself the note as the idea for a story, which then turned into this book.

Though completely unconnected to Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, fans of the series will find comfort in the familiar voice and quirky

metatextual style. The ‘mystery’ promised by the novella is secondary to the purpose of the book as a musing on philosophy, life and writing. It may go over the heads of younger readers and will not suit those that require pacy, plot driven books, but is generally a quick and thoughtful read. Each chapter is accompanied by a charming line illustration.

Favourite quote: It is a description which I admire very much, because it is so startling that you know no one else has thought of it before the author did, and yet so perfectly clear that you wonder why you never thought of it yourself...It’s why a favorite book feels like an old friend and a new acquaintance at the same time. (p. 3) Major themes: storytelling, philosophy, death, literature, food, libraries, plot twist Content Notes: 1. A ‘murder mystery’ that discusses death but nobody dies in the course of the story (p. 7). Tells story of a girl’s kidnapping (p. 17). 2. Story featuring a woman called ‘eccentric’, which Snicket explains as ‘so unshakable that people thought she was a ‘witch’. She seemingly puts a curse on all the doors and windows (p.

34). Story featuring a poltergeist (p. 57). Snicket talks about the idea of reincarnation (p. 59). Story featuring a king who is also ‘sort of a sorcerer’ (p. 98). Questions the existence of God. 3. Explains lovers as ‘people who are kissing’ (p. 100).

Snicket imagines what two people across the park might say to each other, the woman asking the man to kiss her while he is bemused by Snicket’s peculiar look (p. 102-3).

Snicket talks about different kinds of kissing, including kissing a child on top of the head or kissing a precious object. He touches on romantic kissing and explains it as a “kind of communication” (p. 150).

bookcurator.com.au | 25

Recommended Age: 10 to 14 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Raids on the supply ships are driving up the price of the petals.

Those in the royal sector have three doses of the elixir per day while the majority of people receive none.

The former King was assassinated in a plot by Consul Montague.

Harristan, the eldest son, ascended the throne at only nineteen. His brother, Corrick, was named King’s Justice. As the enforcer of the King’s law, he has a reputation for ruthlessness and cruelty.

Defy the Night Brigid Kemmerer

Author: Brigid Kemmerer ISBN: 978-1526632807 Published: 14/09/2021 Publisher: Bloomsbury

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION In a kingdom where sickness stalks the streets and only the richest can afford a cure, King Harristan and his brother Prince Corrick are forced to rule with an iron fist.

Tessa Cade is a masked outlaw marked for death, but she likes it that way. Together with the mysterious, handsome Weston, she robs from the rich to help the poor, distributing food and medicine to those who need it most. As it becomes clear that the only way to save her people is to assassinate the King, Tessa must face a deadly mission that will take her to the dark heart of the kingdom—and force her to work with the very people she intended to destroy.

» OUR REVIEW A fever has spread through the kingdom of Kandala; the only known cure is an elixir created from dried Moonflower petals.

Moonflower is native to two areas— Moonlight Plains, controlled by Consul Allisander Sallister, and Emberridge, controlled by Consul Lissa Marpetta. The supply of Moonflower is tightly controlled.

26 | The Book Curator: September 2021

Tessa Cade is the assistant to an apothecary. She uses her skills to brew the elixir for people in need.

She despises the King and Prince Corrick. Her friend Weston “Wes” Lark is her confidant, and the two work together to steal Moonflower petals from the Royal Sector and distribute the elixir to the people.

One day, Tessa finds his body hung from the Royal gates, seemingly executed for theft of the petals.

Seeking revenge for Wes’ death, she hides in the palace, but is found by the guard. They take her to the hold, where she meets Prince Corrick and recognises him: Corrick is Wes. Tessa is horrified to discover that the friend she thought she knew is someone who is rumoured to be cruel. Corrick ensures Tessa is spared; she is clothed, fed and allowed to remain in the palace.

During an audience with King Harristan, Tessa informs him that the wealthy are needlessly overdosing by having three elixirs a day, while others go without any.

Harristan asks her to remain and provide them with advice. Corrick is trying to uncover the plot to rebel against the crown. Consul Allisander encourages the King and Corrick to take a hard line on the raids to his supply ships. Allisander threatens to cut off supply and raise prices if nothing is done.

After going undercover to try and uncover the rebel plot, Corrick and

Tessa are arrested for treason.

While they are incarcerated, Allisander comes to gloat to Corrick about his plot—he has been organising the raids on his own supply ships in order to drive up the price of Moonflower, alongside Consul Lissa who controls the other major supply. Allisander and Lissa are the rebels’ benefactors.

Corrick turns the tables and his brother soon finds himself locked in the hold, while Corrick and Tessa go free.

While making Harristan an elixir to treat the illness he’s struggled with since he was a child, she notices that the petals don’t look as expected and realises the wealthy are being sold a weaker product that requires more doses to be effective. Harristan and Tessa go to the rebels, who are executing the Consuls, and attempt to make peace with them. They promise eight weeks of Moonflower doses, from Consul Allisander’s stock, for all.

A fun, captivating fantasy from the author of the popular Cursebreakers series. The Wes/ Corrick character twist was clever and unexpected, particularly given that the story is told from both Tessa and Corrick’s point of views. Despite being written pre-pandemic, the story makes obvious connections to current conversations around healthcare and class equality. This first book resolves much of the mystery surrounding the rebel plot and its benefactors, but hints at further conspiracies against the crown. A delightful read for any fantasy fan.

Major themes: royalty, conspiracy, justice, duty, fever, medicine, class, inequality Content Notes: 1. Language: bitch x 1. 2. Wes whistles a song about a sailor wooing a maiden, and it references ‘removing her underthings’ (p. 24). Tessa is

taken to the hold and finds herself dressed in clothes that are not her own. She is disgusted at the thought of being undressed while unconscious, but no abuse is implied (p. 123). Tessa finds out that the man hung at the gates (in the place of ‘Wes’) was a smuggler who was caught beating and raping a woman (p. 150-51). Rumour that Tessa ‘spent the night’ with the prince and is carrying his bastard (p.

204). Corrick and Tessa kiss (p.

325, 432). 3. Tessa finds the body of ‘Wes’ strung up at the gates with daggers sticking out of it (p.

94-95). Corrick cuts the throat of the prisoners (p. 259). When they are under attack Corrick kills a patrolman with a crossbow and Tessa kills another with a dagger (p. 315). Corrick interrogates Allisander, he orders the guards to twist Allisander’s arm and break two fingers (p. 419).

Recommended Age: 14 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke Kirsty Applebaum

Author: Kirsty Applebaum ISBN: 978-1788005241 Published: 02/07/2021 Publisher: Nosy Crow

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Lonny is a lifeling. He has the power to heal any living creature and bring it back from the dead.

But he pays a price for this gift—by lengthening the creature’s life, he shortens his own. So Lonny has to be careful, has to stay hidden in the forest. Because if people knew what he could do, Lonny would be left with no life at all...

A brilliant novel from the author of The Middler about family, secrets and a terrible power.

cost, sacrifice, family, grief, friendship, selfishness, solitude, repercussions, aging Content Notes: Not applicable.

Recommended Age: 10 to 15 years Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

» OUR REVIEW For the townsfolk of modern-day Farstoke, a Lifeling is a legend and an antiquated reason for a festival. For the Quicke family it’s about survival and flying underthe-radar. For a Lifeling has the ability to stop death, but at a huge personal cost. Lonny is the latest in the family line to have the ability. Though only 12, he looks a lot older, having saved many animals birds and even insects and aged accordingly. Fed up with the seclusion his father keeps him and his brother in, he longs to see the world as his long-dead mother did.

Seeking work, he ventures into Farstoke where he meets the Voss family and finally ends up attending the Lifeling festival.

Saving the family’s dog reveals his secret and ultimately leads to a life-or-death situation where he must sacrifice himself for another.

A truly fabulous bit of writing. The story is beautifully composed, original and highly engaging.

The characters are believable and full of nuance, with family interactions captured perfectly.

The paradox of Lonny’s Mum’s mantra of living in the moment and being a free spirit vs the Quicke family’s solitary existence and Lonny’s guardedness drives the core of the story and creates tension. A very worthwhile read and highly recommended.

Major themes: fantasy, fable, stopping death, personal

Evacuation Road HM Waugh

Author: HM Waugh ISBN: 978-1761110351 Published: 30/08/2021 Publisher: Rhiza Press

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Eva is far from home when everything goes wrong. And then it gets even worse. Her evacuation bus leaves her behind, stranded with classmates she barely knows. The chase is on. But South America is big, and the old rules are changing quickly. This is the road trip Eva never knew she needed. This is the race for the last flight home.

» OUR REVIEW Eva is stranded in South America.

On the bright side? She speaks Spanish and she isn’t alone—her classmates, Odati and Mike, are stranded with her.

The downside? Her teacher and other classmates have left on the last evacuation bus. She has no mobile coverage. And her backpack is also on the bus, leaving her with just the measly supplies in her daypack.

bookcurator.com.au | 27

Within 24 hours, Eva and her friends are misled by con artists and left on the side of the road, half of their money robbed from them.

Now distrustful of everyone and everything, they trek to the nearest town to meet their teacher on the next bus to Uyuni, their group’s next stop. But upon arrival, they realise that the bus never stopped.

They’re completely on their own.

in her mouth, meaning that he could be interpreted as intending sexual assault. Gunshots (p. 250251). Gunshot wound (p. 256).

Recommended Age: 14 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

The trio meet Brodie and Alice, two English backpackers who are also stranded in South America. After a few more misadventures, the group manage to borrow an old cruiser and supplies from a friendly driver, in order to road-trip their way to Lima, Peru, to catch the last outgoing flight to Australia.

Along the way, they encounter roadblocks, ambushes, desperately broke locals and one recurring sleazy tourist. But they’re determined to make it to the airport before the plane leaves.

Fingers crossed that their fuel doesn’t run out…

A story of hope, adventure, survival and trust set in a world that’s falling apart, Evacuation Road is perfect for anyone who likes a story that keeps them on the edge of their seat.

A Gathering Midnight: Midnight’s Twins 2 Holly Race

Author: Holly Race ISBN: 978-1471410291 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bonnier

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Major themes: adventure, action, survival, trust friendship, romance

For Londoner Fern King, Annwn is her second home—the dream mirror of London, the city she loves. An astonishing world, a world where Dreamers walk in their slumber, their dreams playing out all around them. And Fern, along with her twin brother Ollie, is now a Knight, a trusted guardian and protector of those Dreamers—and every night is spent in Annwn, fulfilling that previously onlyimagined destiny to guard those who sleep.

Content Notes: 1. Brodie kisses Eva (p. 85). 2. A sleazy tourist overpowers Eva and drags her away before Brodie beats him up (p. 196-199). The tourist never states what his intentions are other than separating her from her group, but he calls her “sweetheart” and puts his fingers

But Annwn, this dark and golden city, is a fragile place. There are those who seek to control and to ruin it—mistrust and secrets are rife, and as the delicate symbiotic balance between Annwn and our own world begins to topple, rips begin to appear between the fabric of the worlds. And Fern and Ollie

Favourite Quote: “It took less than two seconds to comprehend how deep in it I was: I was in the middle of South America, the world was screwed, someone was firing a gun, and my bus just left without me.”

28 | The Book Curator: September 2021

will have to do all in their power to protect this place that has become so precious to them ...

» OUR REVIEW Midnight’s Twins introduced Londoner twins Fern and Ollie to the dream world of Annwn, an incredible—and dangerous— fantasy world. They discovered that if you die in Annwn, you also die in the real world (or Ithr). Fern and Ollie’s mother was killed by a teitre (half-human assassin) in Annwn due to her suspicion of Sebastian Medraut, who plans to take over Annwn and remove all free will. Fern and Ollie are now knights who use their Immral powers to protect of Annwn.

Meanwhile, Sebastian is still out there gathering power...

This second book in the trilogy, expands the worlbuilding and explores Annwn’s history, which is heavily influenced by Arthurian legends. In the distant past, King Arthur became consumed with the pursuit of power and used Excalibur to lay waste to Annwn. So many records have been destroyed from that time that it’s difficult to find out what happened, but the knights think that the key to taking Medraut down is to find the sword and use its power against him.

Meanwhile, the tension in Annwn is beginning to bleed over into Ithr.

The dreamers who have joined Medraut show their allegiance by dressing in monochrome colours and conforming, joining his One Voice party. Fern, with her scarring and Albino colouring, sticks out even more against this landscape.

At school, Fern has always faced censure due to her colouring, even getting burned by other students.

The bullying continues to follow her. Because she is able to change her appearance in Annwn, she conceals the burn scar on her face.

The lines between worlds continue

to blur as Fern and Ollie discover a trail of clues to Excalibur left by their mother. Three trials will be required: one of strength, another of faith, and the last of humility.

Fern is under immense pressure in Annwn. An apothecary called Jin is acting as a therapist for her in theory, but in practice Jin seems to hate Fern for no reason. When the next round of recruits join the knights, among them is Sachi—the younger sister of Ramesh, Fern’s friend who died. Sachi wants answers, making Fern’s difficulty connecting with and trusting people clearer. She has feelings for Samson, another knight, but he’s in a relationship back in Ithr.

That’s easier to swallow before her brother (Ollie) introduces Fern and her father to his boyfriend Kieran, a member of Shout Louder—a counter-movement against Medraut’s One Voice party.

Meanwhile, the knights are discovering more about Medraut and Excalibur. They begin to realise that the two types of magic are powered by emotion. Immral, the immensely destructive power that Fern, Ollie, and Medraut can wield, is associated with fear while inspyre is associated with creativity and hope. Further, they realise that these powers can be compressed into powerful objects, linking the myth of the sword in the stone ton Pandora’s Box—opening or unsheathing these objects releases colossal power. Fern and her friends plan to make a puzzle box imbued with hope to fight the destruction in Annwn.

The trials are progressing as Fern undergoes tests of strength and faith. She opens up to Sachi and Jin, communicating and building trust. She uses her Immral power to create powerful sensors that should give them a better idea of Medraut’s movements. But

it’s not enough: Brandon, one of Fern’s friends, dies. Fern and Ollie talk to Medraut’s daughter Lottie and get the key to Excalibur, only to find that they’ve been playing into his hands all along: he takes Excalibur and plans to open his puzzle box full of Immral. Sachi and Andraste, one of Fern’s mentors, die in the struggle. Fern chops off Medraut’s hand and takes Excalibur back, but he manages to escape. Channelling all this power leaves her unable to channel either inspyre or immral. They bury the box of inspyre, intending to come back for it someday.

A pulse-racing story that plunges you into a highly imaginative world. Through the lens of One Voice’s rise to power, this book examines the ways that populism can mask fascism and oppression while bystanders look the other way. Through the struggle between inspyre and immral, the characters see the seductive influence of fear and control, and the incredible power of hope, community and creativity.

Over the course of this book and the previous one, Fern has transformed from someone who shields herself from getting hurt by lashing out at others into a hunble, caring, and self-sacrificing person who willingly puts herself on the line to help others. She does her best to be there for her brother, who she has a complicated past with, and builds a relationship with Samson. A wonderful fantasy adventure full of action and intrigue.

Major themes: fantasy, action, dreams, responsibility, consequences, trust, family, love, secrets, hope, politics, populism Content Notes: 1. Language: bitch x 4, bastards x 1, shit x 7. 2. Fantasy violence and battle scenes throughout. Two dreamers die, this is not described

(p. 135). Brandon dies on-page (p. 301). Andraste dies on-page (p. 368). Sachi dies on-page (p.

380). Medraut’s arm cut off (p.

384). 3. Ollie and Kieran kiss (p. 349). Samson and Fern kiss (p. 328, 392). 4. Fantasy magic, mind control, and elements from Arthurian legends appear throughout.

Recommended Age: 14 to 18 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Splintered Light Ginger Johnson

Author: Ginger Johnson ISBN: 978-1681196237 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bloomsbury

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Ever since his brother Luc’s disappearance and his father’s tragic death, Ishmael has lived a monotonous existence helping his mother on their meager farm where everything is colorless.

Until one morning a ray of light fragments Ishmael’s gray world into something extraordinary—a spectrum of color he never knew existed. Emboldened, Ishmael sets out to find answers hoping his long lost brother might hold the key.

He finds Luc in the Hall of Hue, one of the seven creative workshops at The Commons, the seat of all new creation. Luc is completing the final days of his training as a Color Keeper, adding the finishing touches of color bookcurator.com.au | 29

to a brand new world designed and built by a team of young artisans. Although his heart calls him to a future as a Color Keeper, Ishmael feels too guilty to leave the duties of his old life behind.

But when a catastrophe destroys nearly all of the color and light at the Hall of Hue, Ishmael and Luc are suddenly at severe odds.

Torn between his family and his destiny, Ishmael must learn when to let go of the past, when to trust the path ahead, and when to believe in himself.

» OUR REVIEW For the past seven years Ishmael has tended the sheep in the ramshackle barn behind his home.

It’s a place of grime and greyness, until one day the light hits the glass and fragments into multiple colours. Each of the distinct bands seems to have a personality of their own, and he experiences a strange sense of joy at the sight.

Ishmael desperately wants to share its beauty with his mother, but she can’t see it.

Since his brother Luc disappeared four years ago, and their father died more recently, Ishmael has been his mother’s main helper.

She needs him to help feed and support their remaining family.

When he tells his mother he wants to go and find Luc, she admits to him that she has an idea where he is. Luc left behind a book called A History of The Commons—it’s the name of the hill on the edge of town that Luc and Ishmael rolled down as children, the top of which is surrounded by a large wall.

Behind the wall is another world.

Ishmael is reunited with Luc in the Hall of Hue, one of the seven creative workshops of The Commons (the remaining halls are Shape, Manufactory, Motion, Sound, Scent and Gustation).

There, Luc has been training to be a Color Keeper.

30 | The Book Curator: September 2021

Ishmael discovers that the rest of the world is colour blind, and the colours he sees in the barn mean that he too is called to be a Color Keeper. He longs to follow that calling, but he is torn between the opportunity to train and the need to return home—and take Luc with him—so they can support their mother and younger siblings.

Luc is delighted to have his brother with him, but it soon becomes clear that Ishmael’s giftings far exceed his own. Skills that took Luc two years to learn, take Ishmael just 20 minutes.

Ishmael is captured by the joy colour brings to his heart. The Colour Keepers gather together in a team (a ‘spectrum) to learn the principles of colour. The goal of all this learning is for each of them to create a place to live (a ‘posticum’) that each of the Halls will contribute to. When Ishmael is inadvertently responsible for Luc being locked out of his posticum—the first time this has ever happened to a Color Keeper—Luc’s jealousy and anger overrides his brotherly affection.

When a competition is announced that could provide Luc with a replacement posticum, all Ishmael wants is to help his brother win.

After an accident destroys most of the colour and light, the cause seems hopeless, until Ishmael realises that if he can just get the apprentices from each of the Halls to work together—for the very first time—the result will be something very beautiful indeed...

This really interesting and intriguing book has a very unique and complex plot and strong world building. The author subtly draws on biblical themes regarding joy and creation intentionally filling the emptiness. Underlying themes include the value of practice to develop innate gifts, the value of working together and the importance of harmony, in pursuit

of a goal. Like The Giver by Lois Lowry, there is a lot in this book that could be unpacked.

Major themes: colour, creation, sound, choices, family, training, flavour, scent, creativity, joy, collaboration, revenge, jealousy, betrayal, beauty, light, forgiveness, teamwork, fantasy Content Notes: Not applicable.

Recommended Age: 10 to 15 years Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Shadow: Heirs of Neverland # 2 Kara Swanson

Author: Kara Swanson ISBN: 978-1621841869 Published: 09/09/2021 Publisher: Enclave

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Peter Pan has crash-landed back on his Neverland. But this is not the island he remembers.

Desperate to rescue Claire and the fractured Lost Boys, Peter must unravel the truth of what truly tore his dreamland apart. But with each step, more of his own broken memories come back to haunt him.

Not even Pan himself is what he seems.

Claire Kenton is chained to a pirate ship, watching the carcass remains of Neverland rocked by tempests her own brother has created. When she finally does find him, Connor is a version of her brother who

is every bit as shattered as their Neverland.

Claire may have pixie dust flowing in her veins—but Neverland is flickering dangerously close to its lights going out forever. To rescue Neverland from the darkening shadow, the boy who never grew up and the girl who grew up too fast will have to sacrifice the only thing they have left: each other.

» OUR REVIEW This second book in the Heirs of Neverland series, continues where Dust finished. Claire has been searching for her younger brother Connor, with only one clue to lead her: an old copy of J M Barrie’s Peter Pan. Meanwhile, Peter Pan is in London, searching for a cure for his sickening world.

As Claire gets drawn into a fantasy world shaped by dreams, she’s not sure who to trust. When it’s revealed that Peter has been concealing the truth of her and her brother’s past, she takes a chance and trusts Hook. But the truth is deeper than she could have realised: Neverland, once shaped by Peter’s dreams, is now connected to Connor—and it’s reflecting his nightmares.

In the present, Peter returns to the island in search of Claire and makes contact with Tootles, the only Lost Boy who hasn’t joined Hook. With Tootles is Peter’s shadow, which he’d cut off in his escape from Neverland. The shadow is half-wild and cruel, all the worst parts of Peter. And Tink is gone. Connor’s control over the island—split between Connor, Peter, and Claire—is growing.

Peter resolves to find Claire first, then make a plan to stop him.

Interspersed with Peter’s perspective are flashbacks to Claire’s perspective. She has been captured by Hook and is being kept prisoner on the Jolly Roger.

She manages to escape and flies away using her pixie dust. But she soon encounters the person she’s been searching for, only to find him changed. Connor reveals that they are both part-pixie and part-siren, and that the darkness of the island is a manifestation of something he’s suppressing.

Trying to exert control and prevent the darkness from spreading, Connor’s created a culture of fear around the island and imprisoned everyone, from the pixies to the pirates. To exert full control over the island, he needs Claire to give up her connection.

Connor imprisons Claire on Skull Rock, where it’s revealed that he’s working with the first Lost Girl—Peter Pan’s sister Paige. They convince Claire to release her connection to Neverland, but still won’t set her free.

Peter attempts to rescue her, but is captured by Connor who uses his power over the Neversea to drown one of the Lost Boys.

Peter manages to escape, but the other Lost Boys are taken to the Jolly Roger. Claire learns the truth of Nibs’s death and escapes by herself using her pixie dust. In a confrontation between Claire, Connor, Peter, Paige and Hook the truth of Paige’s past comes out and Peter starts to remember his life before Neverland. Forced to choose between his connection to Neverland and saving Claire, he chooses to give the connection up and they’re rescued by the sirens.

The sirens help them to piece together more of Paige’s puzzling motives. They theorise that she’s trying to give Connor control of the island so she can escape back to Earth—something she’s been unable to do, trapped at the edges of Neverland and forgotten. Claire finds Connor and manages to find out more: Paige had injected his shadow inside him. He’s fighting

for control of his body with the darkest parts of himself.

Tiger Lily reappears to help and takes them to the warriors in the hanging villages. She takes control of their clan, and the pixies, now freed, reunite with Peter and Claire. Peter and Claire visit the star, which they think is the last uncorruptible thing that Paige plans to darken with shadows.

When Paige and Connor come for the star, the Lost Boys, the pixies, and Lily’s warriors make a stand against them—but it’s not enough.

Tootles dies and the star is poisoned. In a massive explosion, the island is reset to a time when Peter was still a child—and Tootles and Nibs are brought back. This is Connor’s dream version of the island, before everything went wrong. But he’s forgotten Claire, and she knows that his repression can’t last. The island is rotten at its core. Claire convinces Peter that he can’t stay in suspended youth forever. Connor’s shadow self can’t be allowed to keep control. Using Paige’s pixie dust, they separate Connor from his shadow. But beneath the beautiful veneer of safety is Paige—and she has help from Peter’s shadow.

Claire is dying, and Peter makes a final stand against his own shadow.

But pixies can be healed with belief and trust, and Peter’s steadfast loyalty helps Claire to recover.

With the power of her shining pixie dust she banishes the shadows.

Through Peter and Claire’s connection to Neverland, the land begins to heal and grow. They get married and make Neverland a place where lost children can safely grow up and build new lives.

An interesting and pacey conclusion to this duology, with strong themes of redemption, healing from trauma, and hope woven throughout this highly symbolic book adding depth.

bookcurator.com.au | 31

» OUR REVIEW

Though it’s always darkest before the dawn, and the narrative contains a lot of dark moments, the message that it’s important to accept grief—rather than repressing it— is potent.

Peter’s character arc in which he genuinely apologises for the hurt he has caused others and gains their trust makes for an excellent read. The cinematic descriptions of incredible fantasy settings are transporting. A great choice for lovers of fantasy and Disney.

Favourite Quote: “If we don’t grow, we don’t live. We just stagnate and begin to rot from the inside out.” (p. 240).

Major themes: mystery, fantasy, other worlds, family, trust, Peter Pan, coming of age, responsibility, consequences, hope, perseverance, depression, grief, trauma, repression, abandonment, redemption, childhood innocence, appearances vs reality Content Notes: 1. Mild nongraphic violence throughout. Nibs dies (p. 79). Tootles dies (p. 228).

Claire nearly dies but she heals (p.

259). Mentions of off-page deaths of Claire’s parents and Tinkerbell.

2. Magic—such as flying, and magical creatures such as pixies and sirens—as per the original Peter Pan story. 3. Claire and Peter kiss (p. 205-206, 262, 276, 284).

Recommended Age: 13 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

32 | The Book Curator: September 2021

The Raven Heir Stephanie Burgis

Author: Stephanie Burgis ISBN: 978-1526614445 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bloomsbury

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Cordelia and her triplets Rosalind and Giles have lived safely in the castle at the centre of the forest all their lives, protected by the spells their mother has woven. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is when she turns into a dragonfly or a blackbird and can fly beyond the great stone walls. But then one day the outside world comes to them. Two rival dukes and their soldiers have come for the triplets because whoever is the eldest is the heir to the throne.

But their mother knows that since the Raven Crown was broken, no one has been able to rule the kingdom of Corvenne and live, and she will not give up any of her children to that death sentence.

When she refuses to reveal which child is the eldest, she is taken prisoner, and Cordelia and her brother and sister find themselves on the run in a dangerous new world. And as they set out across Corvenne to rescue their mother, Cordelia begins to see that there is a deep magic at work, driving her towards a destiny that could tear her family apart, take away her freedom forever or, just maybe, heal a kingdom devastated by a war that has raged for generations.

The quest to know and fulfill her destiny has always driven Cordelia, more so than her triplet siblings Giles and Rosalind. One of them is heir to the throne, but their mother’s not saying who, having also secreted them away from the outside world and protected them via magic. The three children all have magical power, but Cordelia is the most gifted and she can shapeshift into any animal in order to escape the confines of their enchanted castle.

The triplets’ serene world changes when battle-hardened nobles take their mother and older brother captive in order for the true heir to take the throne.

The siblings escape and go on a perilous journey across the realm and witness the destruction which has been wrought on it by continuous warfare. Led by magical forces who wish to restore a harmonious balance, the triplets’ powers and destinies will be revealed...

An absorbing, enjoyable read full of magical power. The premise is that all things are connected and should exist in harmony, but if one aspect is off then disorder awaits—a very salient point.

There’s also a running theme of protection: mother protecting her children, sibling watching out for sibling, and man protecting the earth.

Major themes: magic, siblings, protection, harmony, destiny, love, royal machinations, politics, quest Content Notes: Fairy tale style magic throughout.

Recommended Age: 10 to 14 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

settlement and meets 12-year-old Finn whose people have also been killed. There’s only Finn and his pet ‘devil cat’ (a type of predatory big cat) left. Finn begs to join her—he doesn’t want to be alone anymore.

Crimson Legacy Michelle Bryan

Author: Michelle Bryan ISBN: 978-1912775798 Published: 21/08/2021 Publisher: Aelurus Publishing

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Blood. That’s what Tara sees.

Her village destroyed. Her Grada dead. Her friends taken. Now she’s chasing shadows—a cryptic message to find someone she’s never heard of in a town she’s never visited. But strange things is what Tara will find. Things she can’t explain. People will fear her. Others will want her caught.

Powerful people. Blood. Her blood. That’s what they want. And they’ll do anything to get it.

» OUR REVIEW It’s Tara’s 18th born day. Her real born day is unknown, so each year they commemorate the day that Grada found her as a baby. It should have been a day of celebration, but when the black metal monsters come to Rivercross, it becomes a day of grief and loss. Tara only survives because Grada knocks her out so he can hide her safely in the cellar. when she comes to she discovers that her best friend Ben and the only two children in the village are missing, and everyone else is dead.

Before Grada knocked her out, he made her promise to travel to Littlepass to find Lily the healer and tell her ‘they had come’.

En-route she comes to another

While camped in the woods, they meet Winston Phillip the Third (aka Tater), a dwarf who is a storyteller and minstrel. Tater tells them of the Prezedant - the evil leader who is responsible for the machines and the Army. He hunts down those who oppose him and publicly executes those who disobey. His lands are cesspools of depravity, and he holds no regard for human life. Tara realises her Grada and the other old people in their settlement must have known of him.

The three journey together, but are captured by raiders, who initially intend to sell them in Littlepass. But when one of them steals something precious to her, Tara is filled with rage—and strength. She easily overcomes the other girl and none of the men can stop her until one of them hits her hard enough on the head to knock her out. Tara’s transformation clearly means something to them, and the plan changes—she is a New Blood, the very kind that the Prezedant has been hunting. They will take her directly to him.

Tater says New Bloods are a true miracle ‘of the gods’. Jax (a fellow captive), says she is a freak of nature, a mutation, a danger to everyone around her. Given the wary and almost fearful looks the raiders are now directing at her, he might be right.

After four days of hard travel, the guards’ attention waivers and with the help of a mutant named Po, they escape. A shoot out ensues, and eventually Tara is knocked unconscious. She has a vision of Grada, who shows her

the beauty of her home, the way it was meant to be - beautiful, whole, perfect. He tells her she will do great things, as her destiny is wondrous indeed...

When she wakes, she is in Gray Valley, and Jax’s mother is caring for her. The time they spend in the valley is a time of healing, but Jax doesn’t want her to stay.

After seeing what can happen, he doesn’t want her bringing danger to his home and his loved ones.

As soon as she is able, they leave.

Travelling through a huge abandoned Settler’s Village from the time before, they soon find themselves trapped by muties.

There’s not much about them that seems human. They plan to take Finn, if nothing else, but when Tara starts to transform, their attitudes change completely and they beg her forgiveness. To them she is the Mistress of LIght, the one they have been waiting for. A prophecy foretold that one day the New Bloods would return and clean the earth and heal all that has been broken, bringing home from the darkness. Tara has no idea what they are raving on about.

An old woman called Orakel is in charge of the muties. She too has been awaiting the arrival of a New Blood for a long time. She tells Tara that the people they think of as muties were intentionally infected with the pox by the Prezedant, leaving them deformed and with damaged minds. Prezedant is so obsessed by New Bloods that he has been experimenting on people to try and create more New Bloods himself. That’s why he takes the young ones from the sand lands— he’s looking for more subjects for his experiments.

The New Bloods symbolise all that is pure and good. The evil Prezedant fears them as they are capable of bringing back the light to everything he has worked

bookcurator.com.au | 33

so hard to keep in the darkness.

Before they leave, Orakel warns Tara that one of her three companions will betray her ...

Major themes: post-apocalyptic, human experimentation, selfsacrifice, blood, healing, hope, friendship, betrayal, prophecy

After arriving in Littlepass, Tater organises a place for them to hide out, but before they can take advantage of it, they are captured by the Army. It’s obvious Tater knows their leader and he quickly betrays them all.

Content Notes: 1. Language: bastard x 10, pissed (off) x 1, asshole/ass wipe. They have their own ‘language’, eg. shite / shizen / mule turd. 2. One of the adult men in Rivercross had a whisky still. Tara uses the alcohol to help her burn the bodies of her friends and loved ones killed by the Army (p39). 3. Finn’s family have also been killed. Cat ate a man while defending him (no description), p52. 4. There are legends about the Prezedant. Some say he consumes the souls of the young to maintain his immortality (p83).

He is also believed to have done things no human should be capable of (p87). 5.Infrequent, mildly graphic fight scenes. 6.

Bodies are hung at the entrance of the mine as a message to Tara (non-graphic). 7. The power that surges through the New Bloods is called their ‘Chi’. 8. When their escape is blocked, Tara shoots many of the raiders (moderately graphic mention of her shooting someone in the forehead p161).

They are outnumbered, and Tara calls up a sand storm that takes out their enemies (p171-3). She doesn’t remember this event, and when Jax tells her, she grieves for the lives she has taken, and the ones who will grieve for them.

Jax’s mother eventually tells her that his sister was a New Blood, and that when they came to take her she lost it and there were innocents who died because of it (p176-7). 9. The mutants want Finn as a ‘playmate’ (p216). 10.

Tater sometimes lives in a brothel, and arranges to hide them in a room out the back (p265-6). Tara doesn’t know what that even means, so Tater (very politely and non graphically) explains. She then sees a man grope a woman

Tara (who they drugged so they could control her), Jax and Finn are taken to the iron mines in a cage. One of the mine slaves calls out her name and she is shocked to see her friend Ben, chained to a young girl. She’s desperate to get to him, but Jax convinces her they can’t do anything just yet. That night, they are rescued by a small group of strangers, who take them to the Sanctuary (a house of healing). There, Tara comes face to face with Lily—the woman Granda had told her to find. Lily knew her mother, Rease, and when Rease was killed, took Tara to Granda, in the hope of keeping her safe from the Prezedant.

When Tara secretly joins their rescue mission to find Ben, she is horrified to discover the body of the young girl Ben was chained to—and a number of others— hanging from the entrance to the mine. Ben is not there, but he is now in the hands of the Prezedant.

It’s a warning from the Prezedant to Tara. If she wants to save his life, she must give up her own. But to do that, she will have to live up to expectations, face the truth and become what they all believe her to be...

A well crafted and enjoyable book about a post-apocalyptic land in the late aftermath of World War 3 that is under the control of evil, and the girl who must sacrifice her life if she is to save it. Highly recommended.

34 | The Book Curator: September 2021

he is following up the stairs (not described at all) and realises exactly what is going on. She is very embarassed (p269). 11. The people’s religious comments are about ‘the gods’, but their belief structure is never described. 12. A drop of Tara’s blood brings a withered plant back to life. Prezedant wants the New Bloods because he takes their blood for himself, making his own life prosperous while the rest of the people live in despair. 13. Reference to Prezedant forcing his captives into an arena to entertain the elite with games (think Romans vs Christians).

Recommended Age: 14 years + Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Secrets in the Mist: Skyworld # 1 Morgan L. Busse

Author: Morgan L. Busse ISBN: 978-1621841906 Published: 01/09/2021 Publisher: Enclave

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries… In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival.

That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way

to eradicate the Mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.

The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead.

» OUR REVIEW It’s been three years since the last Purge by the House of Lords, an event which tragically left 14-yearold Cass orphaned and alone.

She’s become adept at looking after herself, and when her food supplies run out, she decides to sneak aboard the Daedalus to steal some food—something she’s done successfully many times before.

But this time is different. This time she is caught, but instead of calling in the bluecoats to arrest her, Captain Gresley offers her a wellpaying job as a ’diver’ aboard his flying ship.

Having quickly realised she was a girl in disguise, Captain Gresley assures her she will be treated with respect as an equal member of the team. She’s not the first street rat he’s taken in, or the first woman who’s been onboard. The last was his mother, the previous captain, who taught him to find strays, give them jobs, train them up and then encourage them to move on to a better life—whatever that might look like for them.

The Captain and his crew are treasure hunters, who send ’divers’ down into the lands abandoned after the Plague Wars to recover artefacts they can sell to collectors.

Divers must be small, nimble and fast, which means Cass is perfect

for the job. In order to protect themselves, they must wear masks to enter the Mist. Spores on their clothing and bodies will expire when they reach altitude, but if the spores enter their lungs, death will soon follow.

The responsibility to maintain order and propriety across the lands and the sky is held by the Alchemy Society, and controlled by the Five Families under the leadership of Crispin Winchester.

Theo Winchester can’t understand why nothing has been done about the Mist before now, given the money, technology and intellect in the hands of the Society.

When Theo finds evidence that the Mist is morphing and changing at a rapidly increasing rate, he knows he must do everything he can to make someone listen to him. He tells one of his professors and is warned off. Those who get too nosy about the Mist don’t live long.

Despite the professor’s attempts to shut him down, Theo craves the truth and knows that he could do more if he didn’t have to keep his research secret.

Then his grandfather suffers heart failure and is given just a few days to live. Faced with his own mortality, Crispin tells Theo the family secret he has been trying to stop him from discovering: Two hundred years ago the Alchemy Society created a biological gas that would render people unconscious. The goal was to end their war without bloodshed—a noble goal that ended in tragedy.

Instead of placing the soldiers in a comatose state (which the Society intended to reverse once they were captured and contained), it ended up killing them, and the spores then used their bodies to survive, creating what has since become known as the Turned.

The so-called ’gas’ was actually

a spore called Bioformin. The society thought they could control it, but it was more lethal than anyone realised. Reproducing at an alarming rate, it soon spread throughout both countries until the land was full of ruin and the Mist was heavily populated by the Turned.

Theo’s ancestor was the creator of Bioformin, and his grandfather tells him they have always secretly possessed the source of a cure.

Crispin hopes that Theo will be the Winchester who finally does the right thing, but first he must recover the box that has been hidden in his ancestor’s abandoned house for the 200 years since the Plague Wars began. At his grandfather’s funeral, there is another warning.

The other Families want him to leave things exactly as they are...

Captain Gresley, Cass, and the crew are known far and wide for their treasure hunting skills. The Stagg Family (one of the Five) hire them to go to an old plague village called Magmire and recover a small wooden box. During their exit they are attacked by the Turned, and Captain Gresley sacrifices his own life to save Cass’s. That’s just the type of person he was.

Bert, Cass and the crew return to Decadenn, carrying the tragic news of Captain Gresley’s death.

His brother, Eli Gresley, is now the sole owner of the Daedalus. He is a pawnbroker and a gambler, who is deeply in debt to the Stagg family. The captain had intended to pay his debts off for him, in order to save his life, while warning him the day would come when that was no longer possible.

Bert strikes a deal with him, that if they earn back the amount owed to the Staggs within 12 months, Eli will give him the ship. It will take nothing short of a miracle to achieve that goal.

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In the meantime, Theo has been trying to find a way to get to his family’s estate. He convinces the crew of the Daedalus to take him to Voxhollow, despite the fact that it is in the Plague Lands, very close to where they lost Captain Gresley, and in the new no-fly zone instituted by the House of Lords (aka the Staggs).

After recovering the box, Theo unlocks it and finds a note stating that there’s a tiny portion of the population who are immune to the Bioformin, and a vial of blood that has been kept as a safeguard. The original plan was to begin testing the blood after the Plague Wars to see if there was a way to replicate that immunity so Bioformin could never be used again. A further two vials of blood were in the box earlier recovered for the Stagg family.

The trip has been fraught with danger, and more is to come. It is clear the Families do not want Theo to be successful in his quest and they have sent Luron, half machine/half man, to stop them.

During their escape, Cass’s mask is torn off but for some reason she doesn’t start Turning. The Daedalus is on fire, so they have no option but to try to reach the nearest town on their glider.

During the night, Cass falls ill. Theo left the box behind in order to save Cass, and desperately hopes he didn’t make the wrong decision.

of relief. For one fleeting moment, she [Cass] wondered if she had ever experienced the peace that seemed to fill him.” (p 111) Major themes: kindness, faith, mercy, courage, friendship, social inequity, class differences, power imbalance, misuse of science, biological weapons, family secrets, dystopian, steampunk Content Notes: 1. When the Spores enter the lungs, the person quickly dies, but the Spores then feed on the nutrients from the brain of the dead person, and use the body as a method of transport. Bodies in this state are called the Turned. 2. There are a few brief but moderately gross descriptions of the Turned, their decomposition and smell (p. 64, 66, 105, 183). 3. Captain Gresley teaches Cass to shoot a gun with incendiary bullets, in order to protect herself and her shipmates from the Turned (p. 73). 4. Oliver doesn’t make it (no descriptions), p119. 5. Theo and Luron have a physical altercation (punching and some blood) p247-8.

Recommended Age: 14 years to Adult Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Their only hope is to find a doctor.

Theo determines to take one step at a time in the hope that Cass will recover, so that together they can seek and find a cure to the Mist ...

Favourite quote: “Everytime it feels like the world is out of control, all I have to do is look up and remember that there’s an order to everything. There is someone bigger than my problems, bigger than the Mist, bigger than anything that can happen in this world and because of that I can breathe a sigh

36 | The Book Curator: September 2021

Kisses and Croissants Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

Author: Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau ISBN: 978-0593375884 Published: 03/08/2021 Publisher: Penguin

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Mis Jenrow has always known she’s destined to be a professional ballerina. In fact, it’s in her blood— according to family legend, her too-many-greats-to-countgrandmother once danced for the Paris Opera and was painted by Degas himself! Her parents say it’s just a fantasy, but to Mia it’s so much more than that. It’s her fate.

Mia is planning to spend a magical summer in France pursuing her dream, but as she pirouettes into Paris, she soon realizes it may be a bit more complicated than she hoped. For starters, there’s her rival, Audrey, who will stop at nothing to show her up. There’s her ballet instructor, whose impossibly high standards push her to the breaking point.

And then... there’s Louis.

Devastatingly, distractingly charming Louis. He’s eager to show Mia his city—and Mia is more than happy to hop on his Vespa and wrap her arms around him as they pass the gleaming lights of the Eiffel Tower. Mia’s summer was supposed to be about ballet— but there’s a reason Paris is called the City of Love...

» OUR REVIEW Mia Jenrow’s grandmother has always told her that ballet is in their blood. The story goes that one of her ancestors was a ballerina in Paris when Degas was painting, and he painted a portrait of her. Without any details, this is impossible to verify; it’s a point of contention between Mia, who wants to believe that she’s meant to be a professional ballerina, and her mother, who wants her to have a plan B. Mia doesn’t get into the summer program at the American Ballet Theatre, but she is accepted into a program at L’Institut de l’Opera de Paris. During the

performance at the end of this program, representatives from prestigious ballet companies from around the world will see her perform—including ABT. This is a huge opportunity—and when her grandmother gives her the details for her great aunt Vivienne, a Frenchwoman who may know about her mysterious ancestor, everything falls into place.

technically challenging role of Odile until the midterm showcase, where she misses a step. Monsieur Dabrowski comes down on her hard, saying that she’s not the first ballerina to be distracted

by Louis and that she needs to focus. Mia breaks it off with Louis, saying that he couldn’t understand how important dancing is to her because he has no passion.

Mia finds out that her biggest rival, Audrey, has also been accepted into the program. Audrey has been classed as a Level 5, while Mia is a Level 4—still an excellent achievement, but reflective of Audrey’s technically-perfect dancing style. It’s a huge surprise when Mia is brought up to Level 5.

Their teacher Monsieur Dabrowski is incredibly harsh, but he says he sees great skill in Mia.

Mia works with Audrey to correct each other’s flaws: Mia takes technical tips from Audrey and takes her out dancing on the street to open her up to emotion.

Audrey confesses that while Mia’s mother is unsupportive, her own is controlling: she insists that Audrey join the Bolshoi Ballet instead of ABT. Mia realises that she doesn’t need to separate her love for Louis, her passion for dancing, and her curiosity about her family history.

She and Louis get back together and discover the painting they believe may be of Élise.

He comments that while Audrey’s dancing is technically perfect, she has no emotion; meanwhile, Mia’s dancing is emotive but has technical faults.

Mia meets a handsome French boy called Louis—Monsieur Dabrowski’s son—outside class one day, and he soon starts to show her around Paris. Mia wants to keep her concentration on dancing, but when Louis offers to help her search for her family history, she can’t resist. Louis doesn’t have Mia’s passion: he was raised by two parents who put their life’s work above their family and prefers to live in the moment. They agree to keep their connection a secret. They visit her great aunt, who has dated photographs of their ancestor Élise Mercier, a ballerina they believe might have been painted by Degas. Louis has connections in the art world, and he promises to ask around.

Meanwhile, Mia has been assigned the role of Odile in Swan Lake while Audrey has been cast as Odette.

Mia is doing well training for the

At the showcase, Audrey and Mia are both stunning. Louis takes Mia to see a mural he painted of her—he’s rediscovered his love of painting and hopes to go to university in the US so they can stay together. But disaster strikes straight afterward when Mia and Louis are in a car accident, leaving Mia with a broken collarbone.

She misses the auditions she’d been invited to based on her performance in the showcase—the auditions that meant everything to her, because they meant joining the ABT. Audrey joins the ABT against her mother’s wishes, while Mia reconnects with her own mother, who admits that it was her own past of failed dancing dreams that prevented her from supporting Mia. But luckily, Mia is able to join L’Institut de l’Opera de Paris—and Louis—once she’s recovered.

and love. Mia at first thinks that she needs to sacrifice her own life and put everything into ballet, but she soon realises that her loves are all connected: Paris, L’Institut de l’Opera de Paris, Louis, Élise Mercier, ballet. She can put everything she has into pursuing what she loves all at once.

Through her friendship with Audrey, she learns valuable lessons about moving past initial differences to forge connections, and gets another perspective on what it means to persevere.

Through her relationship with Louis, she discovers not just the sweetness of first love but the importance of putting work into that love to make it grow. A highly recommended read for dancers, francophiles, and lovers of romance.

Major themes: ballet, romance, Paris, travel, friendship, perseverance, hard work, passion, dreams, family history, art history Content Notes: 1. Mia recalls kissing her first boyfriend Cameron (p. 28). Mia and Louis kiss (p. 182, 242, 246, 264, 273, 277, 278, 307, 311). Louis recalls going to parties and hooking up with girls after a breakup (p. 226).

2. Mia and Louis are 17, but drink alcohol as this is the norm in France (p. 73, 149, 158, 176).

Recommended Age: 15 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

A sweet and heartwarming story about the power of hard work

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Starry Night, Blurry Dreams Henn Kim

Author: Henn Kim ISBN: 978-1526635600 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bloomsbury

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION who are you when you’re alone Starry Night, Blurry Dreams is a collection of graphic poetry about loneliness, love and existing in our world. a heavy heart is hard to carry hold on When words aren’t enough to describe our emotions, this book will offer comfort, joy and a friend in the dark. we all have our own beautiful universe

» OUR REVIEW A combination of short, poetic text with evocative black-and-white illustrations, this book examines the nature of vulnerability and trust in the modern age.

The illustrations often evoke visual puns or metaphors. For example, in one illustration a girl sits in a glass bottle full of messages, alone on a desert island. The accompanying text reads “There are so many things / I want to say” (p. 81). The imagery and poetry work together to convey an idea of wanting to reach out for help, to be vulnerable and honest with others, but holding back in the hope that

38 | The Book Curator: September 2021

someone will come to save you from your isolation—in other words, a message in a bottle that goes unread because it is never sent.

caption “too young to die” (p. 102).

Knives (p. 158).

Other pieces are more lighthearted: one illustration shows a hand holding chopsticks, eating out of a bowlful of old tapes as if they were noodles. The caption, “soul food” (p.

272), links music—nourishment for the soul—to noodles—nourishment for the body.

Recommended Age: 16 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

This book would be an excellent reference for any students working on poetry or art, showing the value of simple ideas executed with thought and care. In the case of students creating a body of work, this book would be a great model to show how many different ideas can become a cohesive whole through careful placement and use of consistent visual language.

This would also be great pleasure reading for anyone interested in poetry or visual art—especially if they are hoping to create their own work for platforms like Instagram, where short-form poetry thrives.

Major themes: art, poetry, relationships, vulnerability, creativity, modern life Content Notes: 1. The illustrations are black and white line drawings.

Throughout the book, as a shorthand for vulnerability and trust, faceless characters are often depicted in swimsuits or underwear, although this is always treated tastefully and nothing explicit is exposed. 2. Couples embracing while undressed; the captions imply young love, love at first sight, and intimacy; nothing is graphically depicted (p. 118, 183, 185). Figures appear to be topless though they are not exposed (p.

95, 171, 248, 259, 280). Bath (p. 92, 121). 3. The figures at times hold bottles or glasses which could be alcoholic (p. 31, 37). Cigarette (p. 221, 241). 3. A woman with her hair braided into a noose with the

Tangleweed and Brine Deirdre Sullivan

Author: Deirdre Sullivan ISBN: 978-1912417117 Published: 06/12/2021 Publisher: Little Island

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION A collection of thirteen dark, feminist retellings of traditional fairytales that follow in the tradition of Angela Carter; stories from Cinderella to Rumpelstiltskin, tales of mermaids and monsters, are given a unique witchy makeover.

» OUR REVIEW This collection of fairytale retellings takes familiar stories and re-examines them through a feminist lens.

Angela Carter, Kate Forsyth, and many other authors have set themselves the project of cutting to the core of these cautionary tales to ask who they are cautioning and what the warning means.

Many of these fairytales have been constructed to control women’s behaviour and contribute to systems of oppression. One obvious change that the author has made in Tangleweed and Brine is to approach all of them

» OUR REVIEW

with a second-person voice. This, combined with the lyrical and poetic prose, creates the sense that these stories are being told aloud; at the same time, the second-person voice puts readers in the shoes of these protagonists and asks them to engage with their stories in a new way, as an active participant rather than an observer.

Some of the fairytales included will be familiar to the reader (like Cinderella or Hansel and Gretel), but others such as Donkeyskin may be new. This book would be an excellent support for any units on folk or fairytales and how they have been changed over time, and is a great excercise for analysis of literary techniques.

Major themes: fractured fairy tales, folklore, feminism, empowerment, magic, occult, witches, royalty, loyalty, marriage, betrayal, family Content Notes: 1. bitch (as in female dog) x 1, whore x 2. 2. Butchering a chicken (p. 5). Menstruation (p.

20). Birth of a calf (p. 21). Mild injury (p. 50, 81). Miscarriage (p. 73, 101).

Reverse Bluebeard: he keeps dying and leaving corpses behind, but coming back to life. He shows his wife the room of corpses (p. 112).

Recollection of mother’s death (p.

116). Bodies of princes tangled in the briars outside Sleeping Beauty’s castle (p. 159). 3. Curses, witches, and fairytale magic or occult elements discussed throughout.

Ouija board (p. 144-155). 4. Brief non-descriptive mention of sex (p. 99). Mentions of fertility and pregnancy throughout.

Recommended Age: 15 years + Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry Joya Goffney

Author: Joya Goffney ISBN: 978-1471410116 Published: 20/07/2021 Publisher: Bonnier

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Quinn keeps lists of everything— from the days she’s ugly cried, to “Things That I Would Never Admit Out Loud,” to all the boys she’d like to kiss. Her lists keep her sane.

By writing her fears (as well as embarrassing and cringeworthy truths) on paper, she never has to face them in real life. That is, until her journal goes missing...

An anonymous account posts one of her lists on Instagram for the whole school to see and blackmails her into facing seven of her greatest fears, or else her entire journal will go public.

Quinn doesn’t know who to trust.

Desperate, she teams up with Carter Bennett—the last known person to have her journal and who Quinn loathes—in a race against time to track down the blackmailer.

Together, they journey through everything Quinn’s been too afraid to face, and along the way, Quinn finds the courage to be honest, to live in the moment, and to fall in love.

A razor-sharp, passionate and addictive YA romcom that readers will love.

Quinn Jackson is used to keeping secrets. Instead of telling anyone what’s going on inside her head, she writes it down in the red journal she keeps with her at all times. Things like: she has a giant crush on Matt Radd. As annoying as she finds Carter Bennett, she wouldn’t mind kissing him. She lied to her parents about being accepted to Columbia. The reason she stopped hanging out with her friend Destany had nothing to do with Matt Radd.

Her leaning tower of secrets begins to crumble when Carter Bennet finds her journal and reads the first, damning, page.

He brings it to school to give back to her, but then “loses” it.

And then Quinn gets a message from an anonymous account on Instagram: if she doesn’t start crossing things off the list on the first page—the things she’s too scared to do—her other secrets will be revealed to the whole school.

To show that they’re serious, the account posts the first list.

Quinn is convinced that Carter is behind it, since he’s the last person who had the journal. But he does his best to help her cross the items off her list, and as they grow closer, she becomes less sure. She meets Carter’s younger sister Olivia, a person whose reputation she helped to destroy, and starts to grow more confident.

Having more Black friends also helps Quinn to feel less alienated and more like she can fit in and be herself, instead of trying to pretend all the time. She goes to a concert, visits the two universities she got accepted to, and slowly falls for Carter. She decides to confess her feelings to him rather than Matt Radd, and the account releases her plan to ruin Olivia’s life.

Olivia and Quinn make up, but Quinn realises that her old

bookcurator.com.au | 39

friends Destany and Gia, who she helped to spread rumours about Olivia, are most likely behind the blackmail. She confronts them, tells Destany the reason that she ghosted her: she doesn’t like it when her white friends say the N-word around her, assuming that she won’t have a problem with it because she’s “basically white”.

Destany’s insistence on ignoring her identity as a Black person made her uncomfortable.

Quinn confesses about Columbia to her parents and asks for help with the cyberbullying. With her mother’s help, she gets Gia expelled and Destany suspended.

Destany apologises, but it’s clear she can’t truly understand why Quinn was angry with her.

Luckily, Quinn has better friends on her side now, and based on the strength of a truthful, vulnerable personal essay she is accepted to the University of Texas. Things with Carter are rocky: he reveals that he had actually read her whole journal, not just the first page, but apologises for invading her privacy and the two start to build a more honest, even relationship. Quinn also faces her fear and visits her grandmother, who she’s afraid will have forgotten her due to Alzheimers.

Over the course of the novel, Quinn becomes a braver, more honest person with a strong sense of identity. By surrounding herself with good-quality, talented and supportive friends she finds the room to grow into herself. The book’s emphasis on trust, truth, and the importance of privacy sends an important message. The depiction of the horrible effects of bullying—both in person and offline—is also shown through both Olivia and Quinn.

Quinn’s changing relationship with her identity, and her father’s internalised racism, are also shown

40 | The Book Curator: September 2021

in a complex and interesting light.

Overall, this is a compelling read with a sweet romance and a strong, brave character at its core.

Major themes: romance, truth, bravery, secrets, vulnerability, journalling, futures, university, trust, race, identity Content Notes: 1. Language: shit x 34, The n— word (p. 9, 108). Christ (p. 14), f**k x 7 (p. 21 x 2, 76, 120, 123, 250, 281), bitch x 10, bastard x 1, dick x 1. 2. Quinn and her friends drink alcohol and become intoxicated. Quinn is 18, but she is considered underage in the U.S. and uses a fake ID (p. 137—172).

Quinn’s parents are drunk (p.

255). 3. Quinn and Carter call each other at night and tell each other what they’re wearing to bed, but don’t discuss anything further. (p. 201). Quinn and Carter kiss (p.

221, 238-239, 352). 4. References to casual racism and use of “the n word” by white people throughout.

Recommended Age: 16 to 19 years Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

It’s like a compass and I tune in to the needle often—trust/don’t trust, run/stay... I can’t read the needle right now. The warmth of the room is clouding my judgment.

In the midst of a nuclear winter, Lucy, Fin and Max flee the chaos of Sydney with blood on their clothes, a gun and handwritten directions to safety. When they reach Wattlewood, it seems like their struggle to survive might be over. There is food, warmth and adults in charge. So why can’t Lucy shake the feeling they’re still in danger?

Lucy’s survived the apocalypse, but can she escape a more insidious threat?

» OUR REVIEW Following the apocalyptic events described in the previous book— The Sky So Heavy—Australia is now in a nuclear winter.

Lucy, Fin and Max are heading to Wattlewood Recreation Centre, having been given the address by Jeff Effrez, an old teacher who had done all he could to help them on their way. His daughter, Esther, is at the Centre and he is sure they will be welcomed there.

The Centre is a settlement established initially by analysts who could see what was coming.

They prepared for the apocalypse while almost everyone else lived their lives as usual.

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION

Despite Mr Effrez’s hopes, their arrival doesn’t result in the welcome they were expecting.

Following a very assertive response, the self-appointed leader—Jaxon—says they can stay for one month and then they will review the situation. Esther Effrez is there, but she is very close to Jaxon. Jaxon is ex-army, and Lucy doesn’t feel safe around him, but can’t quite work out why.

Instinct has kept us alive so far.

Fin is protective of Lucy, but in a

When We Are Invisible Claire Zorn

Author: Claire Zorn ISBN: 978-0702263132 Published: 30/03/2021 Publisher: UQP

way that doesn’t help. She hates feeling vulnerable: feeling like she needs a man to protect her from other men. It’s hard for Fin to understand what it is like to know that you are constantly in danger and—in some instances—unlikely to be able to protect yourself.

When a woman called Sarah and her daughter Polly arrive at the gate of the compound, starving and without water, the guards won’t let them in. Lucy wants to help them but Fin not so much.

He used to help everyone, but now—under Jaxon’s influence— he’s confused about what being a good guy really means.

Jaxon and Tom go looking for Sarah and Polly, but return separately and alone. Jaxon is injured and tells them that Sarah tried to kill him. As a consequence he puts the compound into lockdown. After a few days, he sends Tom and Lucy out to hunt for food. During their hunt, Tom is shot but they don’t know who by.

With Lucy’s help he makes it back but it was touch-and-go.

On their return, Jaxon is furious with her for a prior incident where she stood up against him and Raahel (one of the other women), tells her she must cry and apologise. It is the only way to deescalate the situation. Initially she refuses to, but seeing the fury in his eyes, she soon capitulates. It seems to be the only way to stay safe from his violent anger. She feels humiliated—like a helpless little girl, in the hands of a big scary man.

Lucy realises that Jaxon is an abusive and controlling person with a hero complex. She wants to tell the others but can’t pin his behaviour down to something tangible. He lied to Esther, telling her that Lucy was jealous and trying to get his attention, so that Esther wouldn’t listen to anything

Lucy said. Eventually—with Raahel’s help—Lucy talks Esther into leaving with her and going to find her dad.

Within 30 minutes of leaving the complex, Lucy’s phone pings.

She can’t comprehend how that could be, given there has been no phone service, electricity or other technology since the attack.

There’s a message from her older sister Penelope (aka Bit) who she hasn’t seen since the morning before the missiles fell.

Esther manages to ring her father and to her surprise, Libby—Fin’s mother—answers. She tells Lucy that her mum is alive but her dad and sister didn’t make it. Libby is with Jeff, Esther’s father, who is alive, but badly injured.

Libby and Jeff had gone to the compound to tell them the electricity was back on, but Jaxon chased them off, telling them Esther had never arrived, that he had never heard of Lucy, and that he’ll kill them if they come back.

But Jeff can’t give up. Certain that Esther is in there, he returns.

Jaxon shoots him, and his wound gets badly infected.

Jeff desperately needs penicillin, and the only way they can get it is by going back to the compound.

They hatch a plan for Lucy and Esther to return and pretend they have been out hunting, all apologetic and shamed for having disobeyed Jaxon, while Libby and Jeff drive there in the car. Lucy will arrange for Fin to let them in, then everyone will find out what a monster Jaxon really is.

But Jaxon is one step ahead, and meets them on the road, quickly disarming the two girls. He takes them back to the camp, but Esther isn’t about to let him win once more. She has a gun he doesn’t know about, and threatens him with it. He thinks she’ll never go through with it, but he’s wrong—she shoots him in the hand. When the

others hear the shot they come running out, and the girls tell them the truth about Jaxon and what he has done. Rob doesn’t want to believe them, until he finds out that Jaxon was never a soldier, had never been to Iraq—it was all lies. ”... [Jaxon] wanted to be the hero without knowing that the hero is the last person anyone should want to be—because they have the hardest job and have to live with it forever” (p. 294) When Libby arrives, and tells them that Jeff didn’t make it, Fin loses it. He wants to kill Jaxon. But Lucy knows what it is like to live with something like that hanging over you (having probably killed someone in the previous book in order to save Fin’s life) and stops him. She doesn’t want him to live with the same awful memories that she has.

Jaxon runs, and with him gone, the community is able to start healing, and to reach out to those that he had refused to help ...

This sequel to the apocalyptic novel, The Sky So Heavy, is somewhat unexpected. While it is set in the aftermath of the previous book, it is essentially an in-depth look at coercive control.

It shows the impact on victims (and the ways the perpetrators ’prepare’ them to take the abuse), as well as the reality that even those who see it may not stand up to it, something they must do if the victims are ever going to be free. As is always the case with Claire Zorn, who is an incredibly gifted writer, this is a masterfully crafted and powerful book for older teens.

Claire has dedicated the book to “every woman or girl who has ever been abused, gaslit, intimidated and controlled by their current or former partner”. As well as being a worthwhile read, this is a book that may cause readers to stop bookcurator.com.au | 41

and think about their own actions, the actions of those around them, and identify whether they may themselves be a victim, a perpetrator, or a bystander.

Favourite quote: “An act of violence is like a moment of punctuation between oneself and another. You used to be someone who couldn’t do something like that. Now you are someone who can. Who did. And who might again. At least that’s how it was for me.” (p. 3) Major themes: violence, war, societal collapse, oppression of women, abuse, heroism, guilt, coercive control Content Notes: 1. Language: shit x 22, ’frig’ x 7, f**k x 14, bloody x 15, bitch x 13, dick x 6, bugger x 2.

2. Lucy’s sister Bit had been out of hospital for two years, after treatment for a severe eating disorder. Lucy has a flashback to the rape that drove Penelope down a road of self-destruction, something that Lucy only became aware of in the aftermath. Lucy recalls seeing the blood on her underwear and the light gone from her eyes (p. 71-4). She later reflects on how her sister must have felt trapped in her attacker’s car, “the bruises on her skin like petals of a dark flower. It wasn’t your fault, my darling, beautiful sister. It wasn’t your fault.” (p. 2267). 3. After the violence he has witnessed, Max is traumatised, dehydrated and malnourished, but even when they finally have food, he struggles to eat it. In his mind, there is no point. 4. Tom refers to having found two of their people dead and having to bury them (no description), p112. 5.

Great discussion about how Noll was full of grace towards those he ’should have hated’, p76-77.

Powerful commentary on the challenges and expectations girls face, or that were faced by women

42 | The Book Curator: September 2021

not that long ago, p89-90. 6.

Hunting, skinning and butchering animals for meat (p. 120). 6.

Fin kisses Lucy (p. 153-5). Lucy removes her top, she is wearing jeans and a bra. Fin removes his top. They are passionately kissing (p. 165) until Lucy has a flashback to her sister, post-rape, and freezes. 7. Fin describes watching and holding Noll as he died from bullet wounds (p. 199). Matt, a soldier, shot himself, after killing the army officer guarding the fuel they so desperately needed. He couldn’t live with the knowledge that he had taken someone’s life (p. 6-7, 46-7).

Recommended Age: 15 years + Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

It’s Not You, It’s Me Gabrielle Williams

Author: Gabrielle Williams ISBN: 978-1760526078 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Allen & Unwin

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION Holly Fitzgerald has inexplicably woken up inside the body of an LA teenager called Trinity Byrne in 1980—trapping Trinity in Holly’s forty-year-old body back in Melbourne, 2020.

Mind. Officially. Blown.

Holly finds herself navigating a brand-new body, family and cute boy next door—not to mention rock band that might just make it,

and potential kidnapper.

Meanwhile, lies intersect with truth, hurtling both Holly and Trinity towards a dangerous fate as the connections between them grow deeper and stranger than either could have ever imagined.

» OUR REVIEW It’s February 29, 2020 and Holly, an art teacher living in Melbourne, is celebrating her 40th birthday.

A friend gifts her an orange 1980s Brother typewriter. When she begins to write a thank you note, she is suddenly flung back into the past where she wakes up in the body of an LA teenager, Trinity. LA in the 80s is being stalked by a serial killer known as the ‘Mariposa Murderer.’

Lewis, her neighbour and classmate, finds Trinity (really Holly in Trinity’s body) collapsed on the sidewalk. He says that he stumbled on a man trying to force her into his car. Holly is confused but plays along as Lewis takes her home. Her family and friends think Trinity is acting strange, but Holly brushes them off by saying she has a concussion. Holly is able to access Trinity’s memories, and can do things—like play the guitar—from her muscle memory.

Holly tries to discover why she has been sent back to Trinity’s body 40 years in the past. She begins to type a letter on the ‘Brother Orange’ and Trinity replies: she is stuck in Holly’s body in the future. Their lives are connected: both were born on the 29th of February, both were born in LA, and both have the rare ‘Rhnull’ blood type. Holly was an unplanned baby who was mostly abandoned by her young mother and cared for by her grandmother, while Trinity has two loving, but currently separated, parents and a younger sister, Loolah.

During an ouija board session with Trinity’s friends, Holly discovers the

message ‘HELP TRINITY HOLLY.’ Holly and Trinity communicate using the typewriter, with Holly believing that was sent back to ‘fix’ Trinity’s life. Trinity, in contrast, makes it her mission to ‘ruin’ Holly’s life until she switches them back.

The two seem to have swapped due to a cosmic event called the ‘Date of Resetting,’ which occurs on the last 29th day in February for the millenia.

Trinity’s mom, an obstetrician, delivers baby Holly at the hospital.

Holly’s mother met her father on her European travels, where the two had a brief romance.

She goes to LA to track him down, as neither knew about the pregnancy, but discovered that he had died in an accident. While donating blood for baby Holly, she sees a man that looks like her father at the hospital and thinks that her mother has lied to her.

The man seems to recognise her.

Holly, as Trinity, accepts a lift from her ‘father’ and he takes her to his home. She realises that it is not her father, who really had passed away, but his brother. He was the one trying to get Trinity into his car when she fainted and they switched bodies. Holly knocks the man, Holly’s uncle, unconscious— thereby saving Trinity from being the serial killer’s victim. Her mission seemingly complete, Holly and Trinity return to their own bodies. When Trinity returns to her life, she likes some of the changes and her family decides to adopt baby Holly. Both have new futures ahead of them, their paths entwined by a mysterious event.

A fun body-swap story that, despite the subject matter, is playful and an easy read. In the vein of Pretty Little Liars, the serial killer plot is minor and never descriptive. Readers will enjoy the fast pace and mystery elements.

Major themes: time, fate,

mystery, crime, serial killers, punk music, body swap, time travel Content Notes: 1. Language: dick x 2, shit x 5, f**k x 10. 2. Susie smokes a cigarette. Holly refuses and calls them ‘cancer sticks’ (p.

85). Smoking (p. 125, 224). 3. The girls conduct a ‘seance’. They use an ouija board which belongs to Susie’s mother (a medium). The typewriter appears to move on its own. (p. 87). Susie’s mum is a medium, and she predicts the ‘Date of Resetting’. (p. 227-9). 4.

Holly wonders about whether her boyfriend, Micheal, will sleep with Trinity (while she is stuck in Holly’s body) (p. 106). April calls the images Lewis has taken of Trinity for his art project “like sex on a stick.” (p. 205). Trinity kisses Lewis (p. 268). 5. The girls shoplift at the mall and Holly is uneasy about it (p. 132). 6. Trinity (Holly) kicks the man who kidnapped her, the Mariposa Murderer, knocking him unconscious (p. 252).

Recommended Age: 15 years + Suitable class novel: NO Good read rating: Literary value rating:

The Forevers Chris Whitaker

Author: Chris Whitaker ISBN: 978-1471410994 Published: 31/08/2021 Publisher: Bonnier

» PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION They knew the end was coming.

They saw it ten years back, when it was far enough away in space

and time and meaning. The changes were gradual, and then sudden.

For Mae and her friends, it means navigating a life where action and consequence are no longer related. Where the popular are both trophies and targets. And where petty grudges turn deadlier with each passing day. So, did Abi Manton jump off the cliff or was she pushed? Her death is just the beginning of the end. With teachers losing control of their students and themselves, and the end rushing toward all of them, it leaves everyone facing the answer to one, simple question...

What would you do if you could get away with anything?

» OUR REVIEW Ten years ago, asteroid 8050XF11— referred to as “Selena”—was seen on a collision course with Earth.

Since then, the human race has lived with the knowledge of the exact date of the Apocalypse.

There have been Saviour missions— space probes and shuttles sent out in the hope of delaying or shifting Selena’s course—but all have been unsuccessful. Now it’s 30 days before the end of the world, and everyone is reacting differently.

Some people, known as “Leavers”, move away or commit suicide, unable to see the end of the world out. Others continue with their normal lives, going to school or work. But as the end comes, more people give up. Prisoners are being released because there aren’t enough guards; grocery aisles are bare because there aren’t enough delivery drivers.

The rich and powerful build bunkers underground, but even they know they can’t outlive the end of the world.

When rich girl Abi Manton is found dead on the beach, everyone is under suspicion. Mae and Abi were

bookcurator.com.au | 43

once friends. Mae, the sole provider for her blind younger sister and her ageing grandmother, once moved in similar circles to Abi—but then her father started making more money when people started building bunkers, and suddenly Abi and her family had it all. But before they split, Mae and Abi created the Forevers.

The future—and the world—has always belonged to the rich and powerful. But the devastation of Selena is the great equaliser, and the Forevers are a movement for people on the fringes of society, who now own the world as much as anyone. For the “creeps and weirdos”, in the Radiohead sense.

Someone hijacks the school’s speaker system and plays tapes of Abi explaining the Forevers. And as Selena’s impact draws closer, more and more people tattoo “Forever” on their wrists, symbolically taking back control of their future or lack thereof.

Mae begins to investigate, hoping to find answers if not justice. As she does, she digs up the buried secrets of seemingly everyone in their small town. Sally Sweeny was being sexually abused by her father; Hugo Prince likes to wear makeup; Theodore Sandford and Sullivan Reed are together; Mr Silver got Abi pregnant, which is why she killed herself.

Huge secrets, interspersed with moments of light as Felix finally confesses his love to the girl of his dreams, Mae falls for a rich boy with a sad past, and they all find ways to create meaning in a world that’s about to end. And when the end comes, Mae and the Forevers sit on the beach to meet it.

This is a fascinating and highly conceptual book. The writing style seems stream-of-consciousness as it will often skip between conversations with different people as if no time had passed, or not

44 | The Book Curator: September 2021

introduce characters by name, giving the impression that Mae is floating, disconnected, through a timeless world. The focus is on the complex web of relationships and motivations between characters, and on the philosophical ideas they discuss—what justice and punishment mean, if there is an afterlife, what the point is in living. The class conflict is most core to Mae’s story, but there’s discussion of how bullying, abuse, oppression, and trauma of all kinds are concealed and perpetuated by society and communities.

While this is quite a heavy read, it’s incredibly moving and has moments of lightness that feel truly earned.

Favourite Quote: “We grabbed hold of the forever that was stolen from us. The forever in fairy tales, the ever-after that doesn’t burn out. It wasn’t for the perfect prince and princess, it was for the girl who lost both parents when she was 10, it was for the sides of us that we keep hidden because the world wasn’t willing to accept. We rewrote the rules. We chose the forever we dreamed of.” (p. 98).

Major themes: justice, mystery, thriller, consequences, hope, apocalypse, philosophy, meaning, romance, societal norms, truth, oppression, mental illness, trauma, abuse, grief, friendship Content Notes: 1. Mae discovers the dead body of Abi Manton (p. 1-2). This is discussed (p. 10).

Discussion of suicide and death throughout. Mae discovers the police chief’s body; he has committed suicide (p. 260). Hugo Prince self-harms (p. 42, 285).

This is implied to be a result of physical abuse by his father (p.

132, 234), which is confirmed p.

343). Mae’s grandmother hits her (p. 180). Mae hits Sullivan Reed in the head to stop him from raping Hunter (p. 177). He later claims

he only wanted to scare her. Mr. Starling, the teacher, hits Liam for disrupting class (p. 188). Jeet Patel kills Hugo Prince (p. 348). The world ends (p. 354). Revealed that Sally Sweeney is overweight to avoid her father’s sexual abuse; she kills him to escape and also kills her mother (p. 308-309). 2.

Language: bitch x 13, shit x 39. dicks x 3, f**k x 6 (p. 45, 205, 217, 262, 326, 337), bastard x 1.

Words like slut and whore used throughout, especially against Mae. 3. Cigarettes (p. 74, 92, 111, 155, 161, 178). People ages 17 to adult drink alcohol (p. 32, 50-51, 60, 100, 132, 150, 201, 217, 227, 334, 338). 4. Mae and Jack kiss (p. 32, 55, 101, 282-283). Candice and Liam kiss (p. 45). Theodore Sanford tells Mae that Abi caught him and Sullivan Reed together.

She covered for him and they started a fake relationship (p.

248). Theodore Sanford and Sullivan Reed kiss (p. 305). Laura Matthews and Daniel Holland get married and kiss (p. 257).

Discussion of sex throughout.

Mae thinks that John Prince (Hugo Prince’s father) got Abby pregnant (p. 275). Reveal that Abby was trying to abort her unplanned pregnancy (p. 334). Hunter Silver claims her father was responsible (p. 337). Mae catches Luke Manton’s wife sleeping with John Prince, this is not described (p. 288). Implication that Mae and Jack sleep together (p. 283).

Sally Sweeney punches Liam (p. 328). Candice Harper kisses Felix (p. 330). Hugo Prince kisses Hunter Silver (p. 339). Implication that Felix and Candice sleep together (p. 340). 5. The Forevers tattoo “Forever” on their wrists throughout.

Recommended Age: 16 years + Suitable class novel: YES Good read rating: Literary value rating:

USEFUL INFORMATION

Websites and apps

Festivals and literary events

Conferences and seminars

Kinderling

Hobart Writers Festival 9-10 Oct, 2021 Hobart, TAS

PETAA Leading with Literacy Conference 2021 15-16 October, 2021 Sydney, NSW

An Australian radio station for kids—using an app, listeners can access live recordings and podcasts on-demand. Shows include musical and educational content ranging from STEM to languages. The app is free to use. bit.ly/396ZMBn Copyright Guidance SmartCopying has updated their list of guidelines and resources for use of content in online or digital teaching environments. bit.ly/3EaiWEL Australian Good Meat Free educational resources on the cattle and sheep farming industry today. If you’d like to supplement your reading of Neridah McMullen’s Drover with information on cattle in modern times, visit the link below. bit.ly/3yQOjQN

bit.ly/2X6w5hf Poetry on the Move Festival 10-31 Oct, 2021 Online bit.ly/2Yu9NGr Writers Group Convention 17 Oct, 2021 Brisbane, QLD bit.ly/2VrW4yN Historical Novel Society Australasia 2021 Virtual Conference 16-17 & 22-24 Oct, 2021 Online bit.ly/3hf6wS7 Boundless 30 Oct, 2021 Bankstown, NSW bit.ly/3E45an4 Supanova Adelaide 30-31 Oct, 2021 Adelaide, SA bit.ly/3jVM0rq

bit.ly/33nzmrO ALIA: National Library and Information Technicians’ Online Symposium 2021 28-29 October, 2021 Online bit.ly/3hSGBAN 2021 Celebrate Reading National Conference— Insights into Quality Australian Literature for Young Adults 29-30 Oct, 2021 Fremantle, WA bit.ly/3yUjkTW

Quote of the Month The love of learning The sequestered nooks And all the sweet serenity of books.

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Morituri Salutamus (1875)

Do you have a quote, website, conference or other news you’d like to share? Please email editor@bookcurator.com.au

bookcurator.com.au | 45

INDEX

This issue’s titles in alphabetical order Adam-2

Evacuation Road

Alastair Chisholm................................. 18

HM Waugh...............................................27

A Forever Home for Bella

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry

Linda Chapman......................................17

Joya Goffney.......................................... 39

A Gathering Midnight: Midnight’s Twins 2

It’s Not You, It’s Me

Holly Race.............................................. 28

Bad Panda Swapna Haddow................................... 16

Big Sky Mountain Alex Milway..............................................15

Cranky Chicken Katherine Battersby.............................17

Crimson Legacy Michelle Bryan.......................................33

Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths Maisie Chan........................................... 20

Defy the Night Brigid Kemmerer.................................. 26

Edie and the Box of Flits Kate Wilkinson....................................... 21

If I Were King Chelsea O’Byrne....................................15

Indiana Bones Harry Heape........................................... 19

Moose’s Book Bus Inga Moore.............................................. 14

Drover Neridah McMullin.................................. 14

46 | The Book Curator: September 2021

Gabrielle Williams................................ 42

Kisses and Croissants Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau................ 36

Poison for Breakfast Lemony Snicket.....................................25

Secrets in the Mist: Skyworld # 1 Morgan L. Busse.................................. 34

Shadow: Heirs of Neverland # 2 Kara Swanson....................................... 30

Splintered Light Ginger Johnson..................................... 29

Starry Night, Blurry Dreams Henn Kim................................................ 38

Tangleweed and Brine Deirdre Sullivan.................................... 38

The Ava Show Cecily Anne Paterson..........................22

The Forevers Chris Whitaker...................................... 43

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke Kirsty Applebaum................................27

The Perfect Plan Leah Gilbert............................................ 14

The Raven Heir Stephanie Burgis..................................32

The School between Winter and Fairyland Heather Fawcett.................................. 24

The Small Things Lisa Thompson..................................... 20

The Song of Lewis Carmichael Sofie Laguna......................................... 23

Treasure in the Lake Jason Pamment.....................................22

When We Are Invisible Claire Zorn.............................................. 40

What’s on the horizon

COMING NEXT ISSUE ...

Representing

DISABILITY & DIFFERENCE in your Fiction Collection • • • •

Why representation matters How to avoid common tropes Championing own-voices Unique recommendations

GET SET FOR 2022!

PREPPING Renewals are on their way!

FOR THE NEW YEAR. 07 3167 6518

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48 | The Book Curator: September 2021